Millennials In The Workplace

Millennials get a bad rap. They’re called lazy, entitled, or high maintenance simply because they played on T-ball teams in which everyone got a trophy.

Millennials are the generation born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s. Here at Cherryland, they make up almost one-third of our workforce.

And, that number is growing.

I am neither millennial nor Gen-X, the generation born from the early 1960s to the late 1970s. I’m right in between. Depending on how you see it, I either bring the best of both generations or the worst.

I have had the privilege in my career to work with coworkers of all generations. I’ve witnessed the tensions between those generations as Baby Boomers shake their heads at Millennials desire for flexible schedules and Gen-Xers scoff at Millennials demand for career advancement without “putting in their time.”

In my experience, Millennials have a lot to offer our organizations if we can all just learn to play nice in the intergenerational sandbox.

They are digital natives who grew up in the shadows of September 11th. They adapt well to change and are technologically savvy.

At a time when the electric utility industry is changing rapidly, their propensity for change and digital know-how is vital to our success.

They have a strong commitment to social causes and want to work with companies that share their values. They’re a perfect fit for co-ops because of our commitment to our members and the communities we serve.

Millennials want to work with the leadership of their organizations, not for them. They are the most collaborative and inclusive generation to date. To some this may seem like overstepping their bounds, but wouldn’t you rather have a motivated and engaged employee than someone who never pushes the boundaries?

This brings me to what I think is the most misunderstood attribute of Millennials. They are often seen as unmotivated because they don’t work like previous generations. What some see as laziness, I think is just a very low tolerance for nonsense.

They know wearing shorts and a t-shirt to the office will make no difference in terms of their productivity.

They want to be held accountable for outcomes, not punching a timesheet.

And, my favorite thing of all, they do not like office politics or gossip. They crave high levels of cooperation and support among coworkers.

Those T-ball teams with trophies, that was years ago. Now they’re starting families and trying to grow careers just like every other generation before them.

As Millennials flood into the workplace, it’s possible we may have to shift our attitudes and habits to join forces with them. And maybe that’s not a bad thing.