March 2020
CEOs appear less sheltered from criticism since Millennials entered the workforce. This younger generation was raised to be more open and transparent with authority figures, and leadership will have to adjust to this openness – as one CEO remarked: “This is a new competency, and I don’t think that it’s just a normal leadership competency that you learn in business school.” (The Wall Street Journal)
When assessing Baby Boomers’ impact on society today, only 5% of Boomers said their generation had a "somewhat negative" or "very negative" impact, compared to 11% of Xers and 27% of Millennials. However, despite generational differences of opinion and tension like that surrounding “OK, Boomer,” a plurality of respondents of all ages still held a positive opinion of the Baby Boomer legacy. (Newsweek)
Millennials are prompting greater transparency about compensation by being increasingly open to discussing their salary with coworkers. While this openness tends to make companies more equitable (and profitable) in the long run, managers and executives need to prepare themselves for dramatic changes in the hiring and negotiation process. (The New York Times)
Despite being older and having more resources, Gen X investors are less likely than Millennial investors to have a financial advisor (48% vs 61%, respectively). This generation of pragmatists will likely never shake the independence and skepticism of authority that has characterized their cohort since childhood. (Nationwide Advisory Solutions)
Many Millennials have grown disillusioned with the traditional college to workplace pipeline, but blue-collar industries are still having a hard time attracting younger workers. Investing in technical upgrades and gamification processes appears to be the best way to make recruiting and training processes appealing to a new generation. (Forbes)
A recent study about brand intimacy found that Millennials’ top ranking brands were also the best overall performers across all age groups. Although Gen Z’s rankings were of interest to researchers, for now they are considered to be “predictors of future success,” as the preferences of the larger Millennial cohort dominate the market. (Adweek)
A lack of tech savvy at the organizational level is a good enough reason to jump ship for Millennial employees, according to a recent study. Older executives should keep in mind that younger workers expect a certain level of technical expertise, even in more traditional industries. (Zapier)
College campuses are beginning to grapple with snow plow Gen X parents by offering programs like CSU’s “Parent Academy.” While helicopter Boomers were willing participants in “parents’ weekends,” and campus tours, Xer parents want to go beyond watching over their children — they are eager to take classes that will enable them to maintain an active role in the lives of their college-age kids. (Los Angeles Times)