Discussing the population in terms of generations provides insights on how formative experiences – such as the COVID19 crisis – influence people’s views and values. It is my hope that this article will provide you with a better understanding of the experiences, values, and goals of the millennial generation as we navigate through this extraordinary time together.
Who are Millennials?
- Millennials are currently 24 to 39-years old. This means that next year, the oldest in the generation will hit a milestone when they turn 40.
- The millennial cohort spans 15 years and like any other generation, a 24-year old is different than a 39-year old. To put this in perspective, the oldest millennials were 22 – 27 and just starting their careers when the Great Recession of 2008 hit. The youngest in the generation started their careers 10 years later, in 2018 when unemployment was the lowest in 50 years, providing far greater career opportunity than the older millennials found just 10 years earlier.
- Millennials are sandwiched between Generation X, who are currently 40 to 55 years old, and Generation Z, who are currently 10 to 23 years old.
How do Millennials view the current crisis?
As a millennial right in the middle of the generation, I graduated high school in 2008 and entered the workforce after college in 2012. For the millennials that join me in the middle and for those at the end, the current pandemic is the first financial and economic crisis we have experienced as working professionals.
Since the beginning of this public crisis, Millennials have continued to be branded as irresponsible, which is confounding to many in the generation. This tweet from Mairead McArdle clearly describes how millennials view the current pandemic and what they are doing actually during this time:
I completely relate to this because it is what I am doing, and I’m proud to report that 84% of millennials are doing the same. So, let’s talk about the reality of the millennial generation during this crisis:
Older millennials have kids and well-established careers. In contrast, younger millennials are a few years out of college and in the beginning stages of their careers. While early articles and headlines claimed that Millennials were putting others at risk and intensifying the global situation, the popular narrative incorrectly categorized college students, who are Gen Z, as Millennials.
What are millennials doing then? Worrying about our parents. Millennials are afraid for their parents, a majority of whom are Boomers – the demographic considered most at risk in this public health crisis. Millennials are frustrated with their constant struggle of convincing their parents that COVID-19 is to be taken seriously. Scariest of all, this is the first time that millennials are facing the aging and mortality of their parents.
Though others may not see a dramatic shift in their outlook surrounding this pandemic, millennials have always been a stressed generation and this situation is no different. The stay at home orders provide this generation with the opportunity to remove themselves from the environments that cause stress and worry, allowing them to settle, take a breath, and when their phone is away, to just be. Millennials are at home appreciating the simplicities of life and re-connecting with the people and the activities which make them happiest.
Though currently forced to work from home, many Millennials are leading the shift in remote work within their organizations, a practice they have been pushing for many years. One study showed that 92% of millennials desire the option to work remotely, even if it’s only for a few days a week. Another study stated that 75% of millennials want the ability to have a flexible work schedule.
This pandemic has provided an unexpected opportunity for millennials to show their boomer bosses that they are more productive, efficient, and increasingly satisfied when they work at home. Further, Millennials are showcasing the need for their organizations to become technologically savvy. I believe the option to work from home will be a standard operating procedure going forward.
Forged by tragic events including 9-11, Hurricane Katrina and the Great Recession, millennials grew up as the “helpers” in their homes and communities in these times of crisis. The current crisis has provided an unexpected opportunity for us to lead. As the largest working generation, we recognize that our role is critical.
