Millennials – a term used for individuals born in the 1980s and 1990s – have taken the workforce by storm, with their age group being the largest. As of 2017, there were approximately 41 million Baby Boomers, 53 million Generation X’ers, and 56 million Millennials. Each age group has their own strengths and weaknesses.
Given the number of millennials that are now in the height of their careers, it’s important to understand what makes them different from the other age groups, as this can help make it easier to manage them.
#1: Teamwork is effective.
In the 80s and 90s, there was a shift in education that put an increased emphasis on group projects and teamwork. Because of this, members of the Millennial generation became proficient in this type of collaborative working environment and learned to do well with accomplishing tasks as part of a group. A work culture that utilizes teamwork on a regular basis is generally a great space for the Millennial generation to thrive. For homes with multiple household employees, millennials will usually be well-versed working as a team for a common cause. For homes that just have one household employee, you can foster a team environment by communicating well with your employee and ensuring that there is opportunity for creating an environment that allows them to collaborate with you to ensure the home is run smoothly.
#2: Welcome diversity and be flexible.
Making sure you hire a diverse team of household staff is important. Millennials value working with people that are different than them and generally like to stick with jobs that embrace diversity. Flexibility is also something that is very important to the millennial age group. Flexible schedules and work environments are very appealing. So, for example, offer flexibility for employees the ability to take a day off once a month for any activity that allows them to spend time with friends or family or catch up on personal to-dos. Flexibility gives employees a greater work-life balance, which goes a long way.
#3: Give recognition regularly.
Validation, recognition, and positive reinforcement are key to establishing trust and building loyalty in their position. A simple ‘you’re doing a great job’ or ‘thank you’ is very effective. Combining that thank you with a handwritten note and a paid day off or bonus, will be even more helpful in establishing rapport and a positive working relationship.
Millennials have creativity and innovation to offer and working with them can be easy and enjoyable. Understanding what makes this generation different than those in the past will give you the opportunity to empower them to shine and do their best work in your home for a long time.
