Never before in the workplace have so many different generations worked together. Today’s work environment is characterized by a cross-section of generational personalities with the Millennials (born between 1982-2002) as the newest to enter the workplace.

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Millennials in the Workplace

Dal Sohal
HCC Coordinator of Health Promotion & Student Volunteer Programs

They are young, confident, ambitious and headed to the world of work. The “Millennials” are a generation of teens and twenty-somethings born in or after 1982 who are bringing with them an entirely new way of doing business. Their arrival to the workplace has employers curious and looking for ways to respond.

Never before in the workplace have so many different generations worked together. Today’s work environment is characterized by a cross-section of generational personalities: Silents (b.1925-1942), Boomers (b.1943-1960), Generation X (b.1961-1981) and Millennials (b.1982-2002). The contrast of different age groups working together brings new challenges and problems when there are differences in values, attitudes and lifestyles. Workplace topics such as loyalty, work ethic, technology and means of communication become critical issues.

Neil Howe and William Strauss, authors of Millennials Rising, say that this group of young people are “unlike any other youth generation in living memory.” In fact, “over the next decade, the Millennial generation will entirely recast the image of youth as downbeat and alienated to upbeat and engaged.” Some of the generational trends include:

Confident. Raised by parents who know the value of fostering self-esteem, Millennials have an attitude that they can do anything. They are ambitious, goal-driven and have huge aspirations for their career.

Optimistic. Millennials believe in the future and see themselves at its cutting edge. They expect a workplace that is challenging, collaborative, and financially rewarding offering plenty of opportunities for growth.

Cooperative. Millennials are used to being organized in teams and working in groups towards a common vision. They will most likely instigate large-scale institutional change through cooperative efforts and expect to earn a living in a workplace that is fair to all. They are very accepting of different groups and have no tolerance for inequality. For them, diversity is the norm.

Respectful. They are characterized as rule followers who embrace traditional values of home, family life, community and education. They admire heroes of integrity and role models who inspire and motivate them.

Civic-minded. Millennials have always been taught to think about the greater good and have a high inclination for volunteer work. They expect companies to also act in ways that contribute to the community and creating a sustainable environment.

Technologically savvy. Millennials are on the cutting edge of technology and use it in all its forms to meet their needs expediently. They are “stimulation junkies” who are used to efficiency and having lots of options. They often know more about technology than their prospective bosses and will likely use technology to solve corporate and world problems.

Millennials are good at multi-tasking, working with schedules and planned activities, and are keen to make a difference. They bring unbridled enthusiasm to work and are not afraid to speak up when it comes to expressing what they want. Unfortunately, says Claire Raines, co-author of Generations at Work, their enthusiasm is sometimes met with hostility or scepticism by colleagues who don’t understand them. By becoming more aware of generational trends, employers can help foster work environments that acknowledge the differences.

So, what kind of work environments invite, retain and motivate Millennials? According Raines, here are some of their requests:

To learn from a leader. Millennials are looking for role models and are eager to work with people who can serve as mentors. They are keen to be leaders themselves but would like to learn the ropes from someone who they respect and admire.

To learn new knowledge and skills. Millennials want to be challenged and learn new skills in their work environment. Work that is stimulating will keep them interested and motivated.

To be treated with respect. They may be young and inexperienced but Millennials like to know that their ideas are being listened to, encouraged and valued.

To have flexible schedules. Millennials have grown up engaged in countless extracurricular activities. They are not prepared to give up their activities because of job constraints. Inflexible schedules may lose Millennial employees.

To work in friendly environments. Working with positive people who share their optimism is important. Millennials want to work with their friends or people they “click with.” Having fun is important too. A bit of humour not only lightens the work environment but makes it more appealing.