Have you been hearing a lot of complaints from the youngest members of your team recently? New research has suggested that millennials – those born between 1980 and 2004 – are likely to be your workplace’s whiniest workers.
The research, by project management firm, Workfront, found 41 per cent of workers think their millennial colleagues are the biggest complainers, followed by baby boomers (seen by 31 per cent as the moaniest) and generation X.
Millennials are also seen as the least co-operative, by 43 per cent of their colleagues – and the least likely to take responsibility – by 57 per cent of their colleagues.
But they do have some uses. Some 46 per cent of colleagues reckon millennials are the most creative, while 66 per cent think they are the most tech savvy.
Meanwhile, generation X – those aged between 35 and 50 – are seen as the hardest workers, by 52 per cent of colleagues, and the most productive – by 60 per cent. They also have the strongest work ethic, and make the best problem solvers.
But alas, baby boomers – those aged over 50 – are seen as the least hard-working and the least productive, although they do have the second-strongest work ethic and are the second-most skilled.
Lara Murray an employment law specialist with Palmers said: “Although the survey is light-hearted it does demonstrate that the dynamics of most workplaces are diverse and every employee brings individual strengths to their role, as well as weaknesses which need to be carefully managed.
“In most cases, these idiosyncrasies do not have a major impact on company performance but where employee behaviour is causing a significant issue it is wise to nip it in the bud before it becomes a real problem.”
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