Millennials are the most demanding workforce, according to UK bosses | Incentive & Motivation

Millennials expect more from management teams and require the most support in the workplace than any other generation, according to new research.

A Cascade HR study of 1,000 bosses and senior level managers from companies across the UK found that, out of the four generations; Baby Boomers, Generation X, millennials and Generation Z, millennials came out on top as the most demanding set of employees. Just under two-thirds (63%) of bosses said that workers of this generation required the most guidance and support from managers.

When asked about workers they’ve dealt with over their careers, 48% of bosses felt that millennial employees were more reliant on detailed targets and required regular progress meetings in order to stay motivated. However, the majority of bosses (89%) agreed that these demands for support indicated that millennials were highly career driven.

Over one third (39%) of bosses named generation X as the most self-sufficient workers, when asked which age group was more suited to an independent working style. This group required less guidance from management teams, with Baby Boomers coming in at a close second (34%).

Millennials were also cited as the generation most incentivised by reward and praise (41%), followed by Generation X (26%), Baby Boomers (22%) and Generation Z (11%), while Generation X had the biggest desire for a work life balance (37%).

With millennials expecting more from their employers, 51% of managers admitted that it’s difficult to find and retain these workers for a long time. Baby Boomers were cited as the most loyal towards their employers from UK bosses (47%).

The research was conducted by leading provider of HR solutions, Cascade HR with the purpose of gathering a detailed insight into the UK’s differing workforce generations and the diverse sets of values within each group.

Oliver Shaw, CEO of Cascade HR, said: “The modern office has become a diverse working environment, with three or perhaps even four generations now working in the same space.

“As our research highlights, each generation has varying traits and requirements. For example, millennials seem to demand the most time from their managers, possibly due to their eagerness to learn new skills. As a typically well-educated generation, personal development is really important to them and so the use of set targets and frequent praise helps to reinforce that they’re doing a good job.

“At Cascade HR, we see first-hand the regular challenges that managers face in meeting the demands of this ever-changing workforce. So for employers to retain and motivate these different sets of employees, it’s important that managers gain a better understanding of what makes each generation tick so that they can meet their needs and get the best out of each employee.”