| March 1st, 2018

Millennials in the workplace a challenge or an opportunity

By: journeymagazine

By| Brea Hollingsworth

The millennial generation today is rapidly changing the workplace demographic. An already innovative generation, the last of millennials will turn 20 this year, and their turn to enter the workplace is just beginning.

A recent Time Magazine poll states that the job demands of millennials are much different than that of baby boomers. The poll states that millennials want more “me” time on the job, they want the workplace to be fun, and when looking for jobs they seek a more flexible work schedule. Many millennials also stated that they eventually wanted to be their own boss.

“I agree with most of the statement,” said Lindsey Settlemire, a recent graduate of Florida Southern College, “One item that doesn’t align with my values is making my own hours. I don’t mind being told when to come in to work, and find my productivity is usually the same whether I choose to tackle a project in the morning or at night.”

The millennial generation is made up of individuals born between 1977 and 1998. They can be described as tech savvy– having grown up in the digital age that is filled with electronics and a socially networked world.

Because of this, older generations have been known to characterize them as lazy and free-spirited, with unrealistic expectations.

There are around 80 million millennials in the world today and they make up the largest segment of the work force. Because unemployment and underemployment remain high, many millennials are planning to move back in with their parents after they graduate college.

“My main reasons for moving back home were cost effectiveness, not having to pay rent since there was no cash flow inward,” said Lorenzo Bright, a recent FSU graduate. “My dad also had some connections back home that could read me to a permanent job.”

Research shows that millennials are more likely to focus on education and jobs than marriage and children, which at one point was a main priority for the baby boomer generation.

“I feel like millennials are more likely to focus on education and jobs versus marriage and children because we are taught to grind at an early age, and if you get an education then marriage and children will come,” said Davian Evans, a student at FAMU.  “Growing up, I was always taught to work so that I can provide for myself versus relying on someone else to provide for me. Thus, with that being said a lot of millennials focus on their careers so that they can provide and take care of themselves in the future.”

Aside from more “me” time, millennials also want flexible work schedules. They feel that it is necessary to work wherever you want even from remote locations.

The poll also states that 81% of millennials think they should be allowed to make their own hours at work, compared to only 69% of baby boomers.  The nomadic behavior of millennials seems to drive them from job to job every two years, according to the poll.

“At this point in my career, I am always looking for something new that will get me closer to my ultimate goal. I believe that as young professionals, it’s not a bad thing to only spend a couple years with one company before seeking another opportunity elsewhere,” said Settlemire.

Millennials only rate work life balance second to salary when it comes to jobs. Many believe that it is important to have an equal balance.

“It depends on what you want in life. For me, my primary focus is on a greater salary than more flexibility with my hours,” said Donovan Davis, a recent FSU graduate.

Today many corporate companies are making it their mission to try to appeal more to millennials. Companies such as Google and Facebook strategize in making the workplace seem more like an adventure—a theory most companies are beginning to replicate.