No matter what you do and how successful your company is, hiring the right people to work for you is crucial. After all, these people handle your daily business and are in charge of your products and your clients. That’s why you need to be sure you trust them completely and think twice before hiring them. And if you want everything to be all right, you need to maintain harmony and understanding among your staff, but this isn’t always easy.
This is even harder if you employ lots of young people who feel they’re entitled to everything they can think of, so this is something you need to pay close attention to.
In case your staff consists of lots of difficult millennials too, here are a few tips that might help you make your workplace safer, cooler and more efficient.
Why do millennials feel entitled?
Millennials are a special generation, and that’s something we’ve all learned by now. They do things their own way and rarely accept someone else’s opinion, even if they agree with them. That’s why people generally believe that millennials act like they know everything and believe they’re better than everyone else. Their sense of entitlement is obvious, but not everybody is so happy about it, especially the older generations.
This may not be a problem in every company, but it can easily become a massive issue if you’re employing lots of millennials at the same time. Their sense of entitlement can bother their coworkers, and you’re going to have to work on those interpersonal issues as hard as you can. Unless you do so, your staff will be constantly fighting and that’s never good – that means they won’t be doing their job and will actually do your company more harm than good. Talk to your younger staff, try to show them that you’re understanding and compassionate, but don’t let their sense of entitlement harm you in any way.
When is feeling entitled actually good?
On the other hand, feeling entitled doesn’t always have to be bad – if your employees are young and full of energy, they’re going to perform great at their workspace if you manage to lead them. If you feel entitled, you’re also going to feel driven and motivated, absolutely willing to bring your A-game to work every day of the week. This is something every company needs, and if it means your staff is going to look a bit strange every once in a while – it’s worth it!
Entitled people – and especially entitled young people – are more creative and imaginative than those who do things in an old-fashioned way that’s ineffective and practically useless. Coming up with new solutions and ideas might do your company a ton of good, so don’t be afraid to allow your millennial staff all the freedom in the world. They should even be allowed to make decisions on their own because this is good for them and your business, so it’s a win-win opportunity you shouldn’t ignore.
What to do in case of a problem?
Even though millennials are productive and motivated, they can still make your life a living hell, especially if they feel entitled. Thinking that they’re better than everyone else will eventually make them think they’re better than you as well, so nipping these things in the bud is absolutely necessary. Talking to your employees might prove to be enough, but, unfortunately, not always.
What you need to do is assess the problem first. If you’re dealing with a case of miscommunication, be ready to step in and consult everyone involved. In case of a more serious issue – a medical problem, an injury, or something else – you should consult a professional as well. Finding experienced superannuation lawyers might save you a ton of time, energy and patience, but also bring peace and unity back into your company, which is something all of us are looking for.
How to tell them no?
The process of hiring your employees is a delicate and challenging matter, and it takes quite a lot of energy and knowledge. One of the things you should pay attention to is the character of your future employees and their own plans for the future. The reason for that is quite simple – if you’re thinking about hiring someone who’s going to demand a higher salary or look for another employment in a year or two, you might want to think twice and hire someone else instead. But, what if you’re hired such a person?
Millennials who feel entitled and think they should get everything they want to are precisely those kinds of people. They might come to you and say that they feel they deserve more money, demanding a raise straight away. This is a tricky situation and not all employers are able to deal with it in the right way, but you need to do be ready to react. Talk to your employees, hear them out, try to understand why they’re asking for a raise, and only then should you make your decision. Don’t let them tell you they deserve it just because they’re young and motivated – even if that really is the case, you should be the one making this decision and nobody else.
Dealing with millennials who feel entitled might not always be easy, but it’s something you just have to do. Establish a firm and fair policy towards them, and encourage them to do what’s best for them and your company as well.