Millennials in the workplace

fetch, BSN, RN · May 5, 2014

While I certainly understand your frustration, I also wonder why these new comers are getting privileges/benefits that you are not. Is it as simple as asking for it? What are they presenting to management to get this? Myself, in the past I have been burned by a similar situation, where the rulebook said one thing was not available, so I did not request it. Meanwhile co-workers asked anyway, despite what the handbook said, and had their requests fulfilled. Sometimes advocating for yourself really is as simple as asking for something you deserve.

Any employee can ask for any dang thing they please, but management doesn't have to allow it.

No-one will work weekends, holidays, certain units, etc.

Or, more likely, management will have to offer differentials for weekends/nights/holidays, instead of offering the same pay as for a day shift. It's that supply and demand cycle that has happened before and will happen again -- when there's a surplus of nurses, employers can cut what they want, and people will still take the jobs. When there's fewer nurses than open positions, employers will have to entice nurses into working for them instead of their competitor.

They never go "above and beyond" but squeak by with meeting the minimum requirements of the job because, after all-it's a 24 hour facility.

Again - has anyone spoken to these coworkers about it? "You need to do X and Y." When they don't do something, are there repercussions? IE, if Susie refuses to take anyone else's shift, are coworkers then refusing to take Susie's?

I feel kind of like I'm excusing your co-worker's actions, which is not my intention, however I'm not the greatest at wording my thoughts. I'm thinking of Esme's favorite quote (I believe it's Esme, could be Ruby Vee) - "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." A related quote could be "no one can take advantage of you without your consent." Obviously doesn't apply in all situations, but if you know something is going on, then say something! Instead of grumbling about them, stand up for you. You might be surprised at what will happen.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · May 5, 2014

"All nurses with less experience than me are spoiled, self-centered, and entitled" is getting very, very old.

datalore · May 5, 2014

Hm, I can understand the frustration, but I'm wary of painting any generation with a broad stroke, and each generation has it's own less-than-flattering stereotypes. We've all had those kind of coworkers... spanning all generations. I'm a firm believer in "you teach people how to treat you", and I don't allow attitudes like the OP mentioned to go unchecked -- and I'm a millennial. There are plenty of kind, respectful ways to be a leader and show someone how to maintain a team-player attitude, take responsibility, and try to keep up with everyone else's work ethic. Whether they make any changes, on the other hand.... that's what performance reviews and promotions (or lack of) are for.

RNperdiem, RN · May 5, 2014

I still think there is a trace of the loyal "company man" ethos alive and well in the baby boomer heart.

I am old enough(fortyish) to remember those company picnics, all the moving around people did and the strong two-way loyalty between employers and employees. I am young enough to never have worked in that environment.

I came of age when layoff after layoff happened and often in the most tactless ways too. Pensions funds were raided, jobs sent overseas, and keeping an updated resume handy became standard.

The millenials have never lived the team-playing company life. They learned that looking out for their best interest was the sensible thing to do.

imintrouble, BSN, RN · May 5, 2014

I still think there is a trace of the loyal "company man" ethos alive and well in the baby boomer heart.
I am old enough(fortyish) to remember those company picnics, all the moving around people did and the strong two-way loyalty between employers and employees. I am young enough to never have worked in that environment.
I came of age when layoff after layoff happened and often in the most tactless ways too. Pensions funds were raided, jobs sent overseas, and keeping an updated resume handy became standard.
The millenials have never lived the team-playing company life. They learned that looking out for their best interest was the sensible thing to do.

I'm a boomer. Your post made me remember my pre-nursing jobs of the past. Fondly. I was a "company man" and RNperdiem is right, that really never goes away. However, I've recognized for years those days are gone and they're not coming back.

I'm a boomer. I work with millenials that demand and refuse. Request and receive. Their style of employment is reflective of changes in our society as a whole. I used to resent them. They ignore the "you can't do that/you can't have that rule, the rest of us blindly follow. We work alongside each other, we get along, but they sometimes have an unflattering view of my work ethic. Just as I have an unflattering view of theirs.

I resented them, until I adopted some of their strategies. Who'd have guessed? The rules written in stone we old timers followed blindly, really are negotiable. My younger counterparts have taught me that. They've also brought home to me, nobody is going to look after my best interests but me. They showed me by example. Just as they've worn off on me, I know some of me has worn off on them. I like to think it's made us both better.

I hate to blanket an entire generation of workers, but on the whole they're not team players. That's my biggest complaint, in a profession that depends on people sharing responsibilities to get things done.

Cuddleswithpuddles · May 5, 2014

I fail to understand why these studies I 'm reading are telling me we must adapt of workplace to accommodate them because in a few short years they will be the majority.

Could you link us to these studies?

ktwlpn, LPN · May 5, 2014

They make demands and consider no-one's needs but their own in my experience.We have always worked well with self scheduling but not this crowd. They get their requests in without ever sitting down and looking at the template with the rest of the crew.When most of them are spoken about anything related to their job performance they usually respond with "you are picking on me". I did say in my post that I realize not ALL millennials have these issues. If you would like to read about this yourself just plug it in to your search engine,there are numerous articles and studies all over the web. I was thinking the problem was mostly mine until I did some reading-it's NOT me....It's them and it's everywhere.

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 5, 2014

They make demands and consider no-one's needs but their own in my experience.We have always worked well with self scheduling but not this crowd. They get their requests in without ever sitting down and looking at the template with the rest of the crew.When most of them are spoken about anything related to their job performance they usually respond with "you are picking on me". I did say in my post that I realize not ALL millennials have these issues. If you would like to read about this yourself just plug it in to your search engine,there are numerous articles and studies all over the web. I was thinking the problem was mostly mine until I did some reading-it's NOT me....It's them and it's everywhere.

Not you. It's them. It's everywhere. And I'm getting danged tired of turning myself inside out to criticize only in the most constructive way (rather than just LETTING them go ahead and push KCl or something equally intelligent) only to be accused of "picking on them" or "berating" them. Yesterday, after such an incident, the doc at the bedside turned to the Millennial in question and said "She's not picking on you. She's trying to save your skin -- and your patient's. Clearly you have NO idea what "picking on' looks like." Cue the tears -- and the trip to the manager's office.

Cuddleswithpuddles · May 5, 2014

I do see a deluge of articles and studies about millenials, opinions on how to deal with them (or us, considering I am part of that generation) but so far I have not seen any articles in scholarly journals that recommend overhauling the entire workplace for the millenials at the expense of others. I am willing to bet that a lot of infuriating and ridiculous pieces like the Forbes article you mentioned are published simply because they get a rise out of people, but not because they are evidence-based recommendations that are taken seriously and applied to all workplaces as we speak. I do agree with a lot of the negative stereotypes about millenials and I take great pains to distance myself from them. But do I agree that workplaces are now giving non-team players carte blanche? No. In my short time in nursing, demanding divas are quickly addressed formally and informally, and are not allowed to continue with their behaviors without consequence. I am sorry your experience has not been the same, and I hope you find satisfaction in your work life.

ktwlpn, LPN · May 5, 2014

I have now moved off the floor into a specialty area and I'm on my own and I love it.I am responsible for no-one,just my own actions.It's the BEST THING EVER. Sadly in our LTC divas often hang around for a L-O-N-G reign of terror due to the fact that some of our admin is easily manipulated. The poor work ethic and lack of team work has been the hardest for me to deal with-can't stand it.The residents are the ones who suffer.I can't tell you how excited I am to be doing my thing now.Just in time,too.I was ready to knock someone in the head with the pill crusher.

ceebeejay · May 6, 2014

My take on this, through observation, is that this generation grew up watching their parents work their behinds off and they have nothing to show for it. Most of the parents of this generation have lost most if not all of their life's earnings because of the big market crash. 401k's and pensions got wiped out. What do they have to show for it? The world is falling apart, things we thought were fixed and behind us are broken again; all around them is proof that working hard just gets you tired for the most part. I also believe they are a generation that will speak up for themselves, even if the rules say they should not. I am not a Millennial. I just squeaked into GenX or whatever. I can tell you, from experience, people I worked with used to think I got special treatment. I did not. I simply spoke up. Sometimes I was told "no", but often times I could get what I wanted and show my employer that they benefited as well. If they are truly taking advantage, then it will catch up with them eventually. However, if they are simply better than yourself at navigating the system, then perhaps you should take a cue and get what's yours. I mean this in the most supportive way. I have a husband who sits back feeling unappreciated at work, but he never talks to the people who can do something for him. I can't help. He has to speak up for himself. The days of thinking that if you just do a good job, show initiative, and go above and beyond and your supervisor will recommend you for a promotion or raise are not really existing anymore. Supervisors nowadays are only vested in providing good results and moving you, a wonderful employee, it is not in their best interest.