Millennials are probably tired of hearing about how lazy and ungrateful they are, while the Baby Boomers and Gen X’s that manage them are probably unsure of how to handle a generation that so many of their peers have maligned. As this generation of Millennials has started to age in the workforce and more and more articles have been written about their “I’m here, where’s my medal?” attitude, it can feel like a challenge to motivate and get the most out of your younger workers. But what do we actually know about this generation and how to manage them?
- Millennials want to be heard, not necessarily recognized. It’s true that many Millennials were raised in more egalitarian households, where their opinions as children were both asked for and considered by their parents. That has led to a generation that’s more willing to give their input and also expects that their input is going to be valued. Managers who understand this usually appreciate the willingness of their younger workers to come forward and make suggestions. The uninitiated may read this as a need to be awarded a prize just for showing up, but it is actually the opposite. This generation is less likely than any other to simply be a cog in the machine. They want to feel like their contribution is appreciated, even if they are a relatively small part of a large company.
- They want a greater balance between life and work. Perhaps no generation has been concerned with work/life balance as this one. This is probably because they have watched their parents work long hours, sacrificing time with their families, friends and hobbies, only to have to jump back into the workforce after retirement when the economy bottomed out in 2008. They are less likely to buy into the idea that they should sacrifice meaningful life experiences now in order to make a lot of money so that they might be able to have those experiences later in life. They expect that they are going to be able to put their time in at work and also have the opportunity to have a social and/or family life.
- They want an ethical workplace. This generation, more than any before, is concerned with the ethicality of the companies for which they work. Many of them were just entering or leaving college when the massive fraud and corruption in the banking system came to light, and they are extremely wary of getting involved with any company that might be treating consumers in that same way. Social responsibility is very, very important to this generation. They are no longer looking to work with the businesses that will pay them the most money, but instead with those that are the most responsible and which give back to the communities they influence.
They need feedback. Millennials with degrees have gone through the same schooling system as generations before them. They are accustomed to getting feedback on their work and many of them are actually finding, now that they are in the workforce, that no one is willing to tell them how they are doing. This kind of uncertainty often leads to anxiety, and perhaps to a lower job performance overall. Many are surprised to discover that no one will tell them whether or not the work they are doing is good enough. This kind of guidance is not just important for the rising generation, but for all workers of all ages.
- They want stable jobs. Recent studies reported by Forbes magazine found that more than half of all Millennials in the workforce are concerned about globalization and that over 80% of all executives say they are looking for intermittent employees. Millennials are already entering a workforce that has fewer job opportunities than in their parents’ time, and now they are also being told that most of them have no job security. Organizations have slowly been chipping away at employee privileges and many have been sending their labor overseas, where it is undoubtedly cheaper, but which removes the position from the domestic job pool and makes it difficult for qualified individuals to find the work they want.
In general, Millennials expect what their parents and grandparents had, despite the fact that the economy has changed and that many corporations just do not offer those same benefits. Here at Johns Eastern we are committed to creating an environment that values workers at all levels. Check out our careers page for current openings. (insert hyperlink to our careers page on JE website)
