1st Edition
Millennials and Conflict in the Workplace Understand the Unique Traits of the Now Generation
This book unravels the mysteries and confusion surrounding Millennials. They are now the largest group in the labor force and their presence redefines the workplace for many organizations. Many older workers, who struggle to understand Millennials, often define them by stereotypes rather than their actual attributes. The historical and social events that occurred when Millennials were growing up are reviewed, which can result in traits and values specific to this cohort. The research behind this book explores the conflict styles of Millennials compared to Generation Xers and Baby Boomers – the unique strategies they are likely to use to address conflict in the workplace. This book shares the results of interviews and focus groups providing first-hand accounts from Millennials and non-Millennials about their work interactions. And the results from approximately 11,000 test-takers of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument provide fascinating findings about generational differences in conflict styles. Millennials grew up with technology at their fingertips and tend to avoid conflict and seek advice from their online support groups. The book will also dig into Millennials’ powerful use of social media and how they use it to further their causes. They have a strong desire to know what’s happening now and find it difficult to “turn off.” This book explores generational differences and finds an increase in unassertive styles in Millennial males. This work shares what Millennials want and value in a workplace and what employers can do to recruit and retain this valuable cohort. Millennials’ diversity, political and social engagement, and the implications for the broader society are explored. This research fills an important gap in the research on generational cohorts and conflict management and provides valuable information to scholars and practitioners alike.
Chapter 1. The Millennial Majority
What’s in a Name?
The Sizable Millennial Cohort
Millennials Enter the Workforce
The Research
The Questions
Chapter 2. Meet the Millennials
Who Are the Millennials?
Understanding Generations in the United States
Events That Shaped Millennials
Helicopter Parents
What We Know about Generational Differences
Chapter 3. How Millennials Deal with Conflict
Millennials in the Workplace: What We Hear from Employees
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument Data
Dominant Conflict Styles of Millennials, Generation Xers, and Baby Boomers
Changes over Time
Same-Age Analysis: Millennials versus Generation Xers
Chapter 4. Millennials Are Born to Scram: How to Keep Them Satisfied
Get What I Want or Leave
High Expectations
Value-Added Work
A Learning Environment
Want to Know Why
Tell Me How I’m Doing
Do Millennials Really Like Working in Teams?
Cut Me Some Slack
Are Millennials Killing Industries?
Millennials Want Flexibility
Pandemic Spurs Change
Are Millennials Driving the Great Resignation?
Chapter 5. Gender and Conflict Styles
Gender in the Workplace
Male-to-Female Conflict Styles: Aggregated 13-Year Comparison
Same-Gender Conflict Styles: Aggregated 13-Year Comparison
Changes over Time
Same-Age Gender Analysis: Millennials and Generation Xers
What We Learned about Gender Differences
Chapter 6. Support Networks: Millennials and Social Media
Technological Skills Surpass Interpersonal Skills
Online Support Group
Social Media Use
Memes and the Media
The Medium Is the Massage
Technology and Activism
Chapter 7. A Higher Purpose: Social, Political, and Economic Issues
What We Heard in Our Interviews and Focus Groups: Issues That Matter
A Millennial-Led Future: Politics, Diversity, Inclusion, and Racial Justice
Conflict between Rich and Poor
Chapter 8. What We Learned about Millennials
The Research: Interviews, Focus Groups, and Conflict Styles Analysis
Consolidated Research Findings
Politics, Diversity, and Social Media Use
Final Thoughts
Biography
Dr. Cynthia Pearce LeMay is a senior-level researcher with over 30 years of executive and consulting experience, focusing on conflict resolution strategies, intergenerational conflict, and the Millennial generation. In the corporate retirement industry, Cynthia last served as Vice President for Principal Financial Group. Prior to Principal Financial, she was a member of senior management at Northern Trust Retirement Consulting. During her career, she has negotiated billion-dollar agreements, participated in union negotiations, and led a Human Resources department. She has earned lifetime certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources from the Society for Human Resource Management and is a certified Mediator. Cynthia holds a Ph.D. from Kennesaw State University, USA, where she teaches in the business school while continuing her consulting and training business.
