why "millennials" write you emails

No matter what platform you peruse articles upon, you’re bound to see titles promising a scathing article about the sorry state of "Millennials". They live at home, they can’t even afford to buy diamond rings. And horror upon horror, they don’t pick up the phone!

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P.S. For the rest of the article, I’ll replace “Millennials” with “young workers”. I seek not to paint an entire generation with the same broad strokes. Our interests and training are far reaching and diverse, and the differences between the younger and the older manifest often as a function of the changing times, not lacking abilities.

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I recently read an article discussing the recruiter’s dilemma of balancing the creativity a younger employee brings with the “diligence they often lack”, such as irresponsibility and absenteeism.

Evidence from a recent survey reports that managers are three times more likely to hire a mature worker than to hire a millennial (born between 1980 and 2000; Rainer and Rainer, 2011) despite desperately needing their creative talent ("Older Workers, There's Hope: Study Finds Employers Like You Better Than Millennials", Forbes)
Source

SIDEBAR: As an epidemiologist, I have to point out that the presentation of percentages in the Forbes article, while persuasive, may mask the true relationship. Additionally, they posit that employers are more likely to hire older workers than Millennials then go on to discuss results of employer opinions of what skills Millennials need to improve upon. The skills presented on a resume and discussed in an interview are not a true representation of what any employee, regardless of age, can offer on the job. Bias against younger employees (or older, for that matter), manifest in the hiring process. ​

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Let’s paint a hypothetical picture. A person in a senior position retires. The person second to them is a *gasp* Millennial. She has learned the trade and is ready to take on the role. The higher-ups want to internally promote her, but want to ease her in. Very thoughtful - I know I would appreciate that. However, saddling her with additional responsibilities without a change in title or salary communicates a different message to this young worker. She does not feel supported, believed in, or appreciated. She broaches the topic via email, for a few reasons: ​

1. The stark contrast in working styles between generations often hinders the productivity of face-to-face conversations
2. ​The desire to have communication in writing
   

How might the productivity of face-to-face ​conversations be hindered? Two examples for you. Skip if you're picking up what I'm putting down.

Example 1: In person, higher-ups may veer off into various personal stories, with humor and     nonchalance that belittles the topic, leaving the employee frustrated
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Example 2: The frustration of this working relationship may lead to an emotional response, which further solidifies any bias the boss may have about younger workers, or (Gosh forbid) girls in the workplace. ​

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I see a number of posts from recruiters and job seekers alike discussing the challenge of receiving offers in writing. A personal friend faced this challenge in taking a position as a contractor, promised many benefits by the hiring manager that never saw the light of day (or pen to paper). ​

Gone are the days of memos (except in the government - it seems - Comey anyone?) that document difficult conversations. They may still exist in your workplace, but younger employees are not being trained in this practice - so, gone, I say, gone. When I discuss items with a supervisor, I take pointed notes, and send a follow-up email immediately after outlining what we discussed, and asking for response confirmation.

With this email outlining her perspective on the new responsibilities without compensation, she felt she was approaching the issue in the most straight forward, emotionless, and clean cut way she could. But, alas, this is not how it was perceived. The supervisor complained that it was informal and inappropriate. This supervisor, I believe, represents many of the authors of articles mentioned at the start of my article.

So, where do we go from here?
 
Let me know your thoughts.
 
BD

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