There are more and more millennials employed in traditional companies in the U.S., and many employers are struggling to understand the way they work and how they get things done. They usually seem lazy to their employees, but it couldn’t be farther from the truth. They are challenging, but they are worth the effort.
1. Millennials don’t like playing by the old rules
They don’t see the point of strict dress code or having a meeting just because there is a meeting every Monday 8 A.M. but nothing gets done during. Millennials think that these rules are outdated and need to be changed. They are finding new, more effective ways to get the job done without spending too much of their time, and naturally that makes them look like they are lazy, but the fact is that they are trying to work smart and not hard. Millennials are trying to be productive as much as possible and use as little time for that as they can.
2. Millennials work to live and not live to work.
Millennials don’t think about work as the meaning of their life. They are working so they would have the funds to live their lives the way they want. But to be able to do so, they also need time to spend with their friends or simply relaxing, so they can’t spend all of it sitting in the office. So they have two options- working as effectively as possible and getting everything done quickly so there is enough time left for other, non-work related activities, or start their own business in an area they are passionate about and combine their living and pleasure with work. That way, they are living their dream, they love their work and have all the time they need for themselves. Millennials often don’t have a ‘real’ job at an office that confides them and limits their potential and passion, but form something on their own and become successful at what they do. They adapt their work according to their way of life, and not the other way around. That doesn’t make them lazy, it only makes them smart and lucky to have it figured out.
3. They don’t just want the tangible benefits, they also want good work atmosphere
Millennials are equipped with computers and the Internet and they are able to find out everything they want about your company, including the salary, conditions, hours, and other employee’s experiences. They do want all the work benefits your company is providing, but they also want to feel as people and not slaves. They want to have enough space to be able to do their work and not feel claustrophobic, they want colleagues they can talk to, and sometimes even a gym membership. It is sometimes difficult for traditional business owners to understand and please millennial job seekers and workers, but the times are changing and they are the new ruling workforce, so it is necessary to at least try to understand and fulfill their needs, and then they will give their best to do the job well.
4. They like having the possibility of flexibility
Millennials don’t see the point of sitting 8 hours behind the desk if they’ve done all their work in less time. They believe they should be paid according to the quality and amount of their work and not the time they spend doing it. They also think that their work doesn’t necessarily have to be done from an office, especially if they are working on their lap top. Enjoying a relaxing atmosphere in a coffee shop and working there doesn’t make them any less effective. They can do their work equally good from a train station, if it comes to that. If you give them that freedom, they will make efforts and be good employees. They do like being flexible, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get the job done. They just like to do it in their own pace, when and where they are most inspired. And they like understanding why they are doing something, the logic behind it. They don’t just do what they were told.