Adapting to a New Generation of Workers

Millennials range from age 26 to 41 these days and have steered the largest portion of the work force since 2017. However, new and younger employees have a different approach to work, according to Jasmine Johnson, a Georgetown University professor.

They tend to work at organizations for relatively short periods of time and have very strong ideals of work-life balance. The younger generation looks for growth and learning opportunities within an organization and value diversity, equity, and inclusion much more than previous generations. They fully expect to see their values reflected in the workplace and some have begun including how they identify on their resumes as a way to weed out employers that might have issues with nontraditional identities.

Given the student debt many young workers have incurred, pay plays an important role, too. Generally speaking, they make quick decisions to leave when things don’t go their way, but especially when they don’t feel their compensation is fair. The Chronicle of Philanthropy suggests that employers clearly communicate what flexibility or modifications they will consider, rather than simply giving in to everything these young workers ask for. But they also encourage leaders to rethink their own biases and demonstrate a willingness to compromise in some areas, as appropriate.