Millennials and Technology - Morgan Joyce
Millennials & Technology : Are the stereotypes true?
There is so much information out in the world about millennials, also known as Gen Y, and their avid
technology use, but the question remains to how true these stereotypes are. Why are millennials known
to be more technologically savvy than their older coworkers? Is this a positive or a negative thing?
What effect do these stereotypes have on the office community? There have been many studies done
and tons of advice given regarding millennials, technology, and the overall effect on the global world of
business.
According to a study done by Sungdoo Kim, the attachment between those in the millennial generation
and their technology is due to the fact that they have never known a world without technology. While it
has definitely advanced in the last twenty years, the use of technology to conduct business, communicate,
and even for entertainment has been ingrained in the lives of millennials for as long as they can remember.
The changing of work values is another huge contributor to the use of technology by millennials,
which is addressed in detail under the page "Millennials Changing the Workplace". With more and more
young people entering the workforce every day, as well as rapidly advancing technology in many
industries, the changes it will bring are inevitable and hopefully, will better business practices globally.
Cyberloafing: Can access to technology be detrimental?
There is so much information out in the world about millennials, also known as Gen Y, and their avid
technology use, but the question remains to how true these stereotypes are. Why are millennials known
to be more technologically savvy than their older coworkers? Is this a positive or a negative thing?
What effect do these stereotypes have on the office community? There have been many studies done
and tons of advice given regarding millennials, technology, and the overall effect on the global world of
business.
According to a study done by Sungdoo Kim, the attachment between those in the millennial generation
and their technology is due to the fact that they have never known a world without technology. While it
has definitely advanced in the last twenty years, the use of technology to conduct business, communicate,
and even for entertainment has been ingrained in the lives of millennials for as long as they can remember.
The changing of work values is another huge contributor to the use of technology by millennials,
which is addressed in detail under the page "Millennials Changing the Workplace". With more and more
young people entering the workforce every day, as well as rapidly advancing technology in many
industries, the changes it will bring are inevitable and hopefully, will better business practices globally.
Cyberloafing: Can access to technology be detrimental?
With all the negative things that are said about millennials in the workforce, one of the most common
positive stereotypes is that millennials are skilled with technology. Given how rapidly technology
advances in the age of information, it is no surprise that younger generations are said to be more
technologically adept. However, the correlation between millennials and technology may not always be
a positive one.
According to a study done by Sungdoo Kim in 2018, millennials may be using their
savvy technology skills to engage in something referred to as cyberloafing, which is roughly defined
as employees using their access to technology to engage in activities that are not related to their job.
(Lim, 2002). A 2013 study done by Conner states that millennials waste almost twice as much time as
the generation known as the “Baby Boomers”. A relatively common trait among most millennials is an
inability to leave their personal lives behind in order to focus solely on work. As a generation that is
so well connected at all times, it can be difficult for young employees to completely disconnect from
their personal lives for the duration of the work day.
While this stereotype may be true of some millennials, the overall effect may be detrimental for all
millennials looking to join the workforce. In a representative sample, many managers stated that they
were more likely to hire a senior applicant, rather than a millennial with the same experience due to
expectations of decreased reliability. This kind of generational stereotyping is harmful to all involved. It
can lead to a toxic work environment and decreased job satisfaction for many employees. For more
information about the harm of generational stereotypes, please check out the TEDTalk by Leah Georges!
(Corgnet, Hernán-González, & Mateo, 2015)
positive stereotypes is that millennials are skilled with technology. Given how rapidly technology
advances in the age of information, it is no surprise that younger generations are said to be more
technologically adept. However, the correlation between millennials and technology may not always be
a positive one.
According to a study done by Sungdoo Kim in 2018, millennials may be using their
savvy technology skills to engage in something referred to as cyberloafing, which is roughly defined
as employees using their access to technology to engage in activities that are not related to their job.
(Lim, 2002). A 2013 study done by Conner states that millennials waste almost twice as much time as
the generation known as the “Baby Boomers”. A relatively common trait among most millennials is an
inability to leave their personal lives behind in order to focus solely on work. As a generation that is
so well connected at all times, it can be difficult for young employees to completely disconnect from
their personal lives for the duration of the work day.
While this stereotype may be true of some millennials, the overall effect may be detrimental for all
millennials looking to join the workforce. In a representative sample, many managers stated that they
were more likely to hire a senior applicant, rather than a millennial with the same experience due to
expectations of decreased reliability. This kind of generational stereotyping is harmful to all involved. It
can lead to a toxic work environment and decreased job satisfaction for many employees. For more
information about the harm of generational stereotypes, please check out the TEDTalk by Leah Georges!
(Corgnet, Hernán-González, & Mateo, 2015)
Disconnecting: How to curb the need to keep in contact
Kim believes that they key to keeping millennials off their phones at work is not in enforcing strict
technology bans, or reprimanding employees. Instead, he suggests a few approaches that involve
working with younger employees rather than punishing them for the generation in which they were
raised. The first approach Kim warns against is using a harsh deterrence policy in order to discourage
personal technology use in the office. Focusing too much on a policy of deterrence can lead to many
negative results including loss of trust in the organization, decreased drive to succeed, and inability to
balance work and personal lives. (Kim, 2018).
The second approach that Kim advises against is being too laissez-faire when setting boundaries
regarding technology use. When left to their own devices and allowed to use their discretion,
millennial employees may take advantage of work time to conduct personal affairs, and experience a
lack of focus. (Kim, 2018). After warning employers about the pitfalls, Kim lists some suggestions for
creating a positive work environment where employees are dedicated and determined, but still feel that
they are capable of balancing their work and personal lives.
Kim offers his advice, stating “Establishing a workplace technology use policy based on
shared understanding; instilling both relaxation and urgency in the minds of millennials; and
providing training for millennials and managers.” While being well versed in the world of technology
can be a huge benefit for millennial employees, it’s important for employers and employees to be
aware of the detriments as well.
technology bans, or reprimanding employees. Instead, he suggests a few approaches that involve
working with younger employees rather than punishing them for the generation in which they were
raised. The first approach Kim warns against is using a harsh deterrence policy in order to discourage
personal technology use in the office. Focusing too much on a policy of deterrence can lead to many
negative results including loss of trust in the organization, decreased drive to succeed, and inability to
balance work and personal lives. (Kim, 2018).
The second approach that Kim advises against is being too laissez-faire when setting boundaries
regarding technology use. When left to their own devices and allowed to use their discretion,
millennial employees may take advantage of work time to conduct personal affairs, and experience a
lack of focus. (Kim, 2018). After warning employers about the pitfalls, Kim lists some suggestions for
creating a positive work environment where employees are dedicated and determined, but still feel that
they are capable of balancing their work and personal lives.
Kim offers his advice, stating “Establishing a workplace technology use policy based on
shared understanding; instilling both relaxation and urgency in the minds of millennials; and
providing training for millennials and managers.” While being well versed in the world of technology
can be a huge benefit for millennial employees, it’s important for employers and employees to be
aware of the detriments as well.
How negative stereotypes affect the workplace
As previously mentioned, there are so many negative stereotypes surrounding millennials in the workplace. However, there are just as many harsh assumptions made about the older generations in the office as well. These general assumptions are harmful, and create a toxic work environment in which it is difficult for anyone to thrive. Leah Georges sums up the harmful affects of making assumptions, either positive or negative, in her TED Talk : How Generational Stereotypes Hold us Back at Work.
Works Cited
Georges, L. (Director). (2018, April). How generational stereotypes hold us back at work [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/leah_georges_how_generational_stereotypes_hold_us_back_at_work/transcript?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
Kim, S. (2018). Managing millennials’ personal use of technology at work. Business Horizons, 61(2), 261-270. doi:10.1016/j.bushor.2017.11.007
Millennials, Technology, and Cross-Cultural Communication. (2018). Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 18(3). doi:10.33423/jhetp.v18i3.562
V.K.G. Lim The IT way of loafing on the job: Cyberloafing, neutralizing, and organizational justice
Journal of Organizational Behavior, 23 (5) (2002), pp. 675-693
Conner, C. (2013, September 7). Who wastes the most time at work? Forbes. at https://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2013/09/07/who-wastes-the-most-time-at-work/#f72ec036c39e
B. Corgnet, R. Hernán-González, R. Mateo Cognitive reflection and the diligent worker: An experimental study of millennials PLOS ONE, 10 (10) (2015), pp. 1-13
How Gen X Managers Can Prepare Millennials for Leadership. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ethicssage.com/2018/03/how-gen-x-managers-can-prepare-millennials-for-leadership.html
How Gen X Managers Can Prepare Millennials for Leadership. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ethicssage.com/2018/03/how-gen-x-managers-can-prepare-millennials-for-leadership.html
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