Millennials in the Workplace
I am a Millennial (also known as a member of Generation Y). If you were born in the 1980's-1990's, then you too are part of this group that is about 1/3 of today's workforce. In my workplace, I've noticed that there is quite a difference between my generation and the one that came before me. With all of us working under one roof, the differences are sometimes hard to ignore. Millennials are often seen as lazy, entitled, or high maintenance, that we were raised by 'helicopter' parents overly involved in our lives, and that we were raised on the theory that everyone is indeed a winner (and we have plenty of participation trophies to prove it).
Now, don't get me wrong, some of this is true. Though we may have some differing opinions then the older generation we work alongside, we are inevitably 'the future' and this may be my over-confident millennial mentality speaking, but we are also valuable.
So here is what we want out of, and what we contribute to a workplace environment:
We aren't 'disloyal'
We just want to be happy. Gone are the days where you spent 30-40 years working for the same company. Older generations may see this as being disloyal or too focused on money. In all honesty, if we're not happy (and by the way, we'll tell you when we're not), then we move on to something better. We're looking for a place that realizes how valuable we are and that pays us accordingly. In the era of LinkedIn, we're always keeping our options open and expanding our network. Many of us are educated and grew up being told that "your degree in X will pay off." So if we're buried in $50,000+ of school loans, and are feeling like we aren't valued, we're going to move on.
Work/life Balance
I know it might sound crazy, but work is not our priority. This makes older generations cranky, and gives them the impression that we're lazy or not committed to our jobs. Generally speaking, we are not willing to give up our lifestyle for our career. We want to spend time with our family and friends, and want time to devote to our hobbies. We spend at least 8 hours a day at work, so we want our 'free time' to be OUR time. Companies that are rated highest among Millennials offer flexible hours, telecommuting options, paid volunteer opportunities, and plenty of paid vacation time. We want to work hard and play hard, and we will find a way to have it all.
Coworkers = friends?
I know its hard for some older generations to imagine, but we actually tend to become pretty close friends with our fellow millennial coworkers. We hang out on the weekends, grab drinks, celebrate birthdays and play on teams together. We're friends on Facebook and Snapchat, and we text, tweet and Instagram each other. Older generations may see this as a workplace 'distraction,' and do not always appreciate that the line of coworker and friend have become blurred- but for us, being friendly with our coworkers makes 'work' a little more fun! We tend to stay at jobs longer if we like the people we're working with.
We're a little needy
If we're doing well...please tell us. We're always looking for reassurance that we're doing a good job, and that we're a valued member of the team. However, if you tell us we're doing a good job- we expect to be rewarded. Our 'helicopter' parents engrained in us that we deserve better, and to ask for what we want. So don't be surprised if we're mentally taking note of how much value we bring to the company, and how we should be paid more because of it #sorrynotsorry
Google it
Some of us vaguely remember dial up, but for the majority of our lives, we've grown up accustomed to laptops, smartphones, and social media. Facebook has been around for half my life. My cell phone is basically an appendage. We are constantly connected. In the age of Google, there is an answer to any and all questions. When a tech issue arises at work, or I'm unsure of how to make my Excel document do what I want it to do- I Google it. If I'm unsure of how to address an envelope to Uganda - I Google it. If I want to know why the copier machine isn't working - I Google it. Older generations that haven't grown up with the answers at their finger tips, tend to call IT, read operating manuals or ask a millennial. People approach me multiple times a day with questions that I don't know the answers to- however...I know where to find them. Older generations accuse us of expecting instant gratification. It's true- and it's not a bad thing. In fact, the fact that we're constantly looking for answers, solving problems, and are quick learners is a benefit to the organization.
Workplaces will ultimately have to change management/organizational styles to appease the largest workforce- Whether the workplace is as traditional as an Accounting Firm, or as hip as an up and coming Advertising Agency. If not, they'll lose talented employees who, because of our strong networking and technology skills, have the potential to be one of the most productive generations to date.
So, long story short, we're not going anywhere, we are the future, and we're probably not going to stop talking about how great we are- it's a Millennial thing.
MEME Monday
Note to self: Find a sign like this for my desk...
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XOXO,
A
