Millennials are people born between 1981 and 1996. Theirs was a world that shifted fast, and is far removed from what their parents and grandparents, the Baby Boomers, knew. This is why the behaviors and attitudes Millennials exhibit tend to be offensive to Boomers. In this slide show, we are going to explore 18 of these behaviors which cause conflict among these generations.
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Constant Use of Technology
Boomers and Millennials often clash about technology. For Boomers, Millennials using tech on a regular basis amounts to laziness and poor face-to-face communications. But for Millennials, technology is lifestyle — they use it to communicate with friends and family, to work, and for entertainment.
According to a research study by Olivet Nazarene University, 48% of Boomers believe that Millennials are most annoying when on their phones.
Lack of Work Ethic
Boomers believe Millennials are lazy and entitled and expect rewards without hard work. They don’t see Millennials as having much of a work ethic. Boomers think Millennials are lazy for not prioritizing work-life balance. This could come from how generations define dedication and success.
A survey conducted by Olivet Nazarene University found that 35 per cent of Boomers think Millennials’ laziness is annoying to work with.
Lack of Respect for Authority
Many Boomers think Millennials don’t respect authority at work or in politics. They see this as ignoring rules and not valuing the wisdom of authority figures.
Millennials, though, struggle to tread a line between defying the status quo and honouring authority. They feel that they should challenge and push for change.
Political Correctness
Boomers may see Millennials as too sensitive and politically correct. But many think Millennials do this to create a space for respectful and safe discussions.
Entitlement
Baby Boomers feel that Millennials are entitled. It’s as if Millennials think that they deserve everything just because they’re younger. They interpret this as indifference to older generations’ work.
According to the survey by Olivet Nazarene University, 41 per cent of Boomers say entitlement is one of the most annoying traits of Millennials.
Poor Financial Management
Millennials often face criticism from Boomers accuse Millennials of being careless with money – buying things that are not necessary and not saving for the future. They see this as a lack of budgeting and efficiency.
Limited Attention Span
Boomers think Millennials can’t focus for long. They question whether it’s lack of discipline, or a reflection that Millennials don’t want to learn and improve.
Lack of Patience
Boomers view Millennials as impatient. According to Boomers, Millennials want things immediately and don’t have the patience to wait, which they believe is important for success.
The Olivet Nazarene University report indicates that 41% of Boomers struggle to deal with Millennials’ impatience.
Lack of Responsibility
Boomers believe that Millennials are not willing to admit fault – they always blame the other person. They perceive this as a lack of responsibility and determination.
The research also indicates that 35% of Boomers perceive the Millennial lack of responsibility as an issue at work.
Lack of Loyalty
Boomers value loyalty at work. They consider Millennials’ job-hopping as a lack of commitment. Millennials, however, understand the career change as a career advancement opportunity.
A poll from Olivet Nazarene University found that 60 percent of Boomers think Millennials aren’t loyal to their employers and 91 per cent of Millennials think Boomers are.
Need for Constant Change
Boomers often see Millennials’ need for change as restlessness and a lack of commitment. Boomers see stability as happiness and prosperity, whereas Millennials see change as a chance for progression.
Addiction to Social Media
Boomers view the millennials’ obsession with social media as an addiction that harms real-life social skills. Boomers believe it prevents Millennials from forming deep connections and sets unreasonable expectations. But millennials use social media to connect, share information, and express themselves.
Need for Instant Gratification
Boomers assume Millennials demand instant gratification as they have no patience and can’t delay enjoyment for long-term goals. But millennials focus on living in the present and enjoying life now rather than waiting for an uncertain future.
Ignoring Traditions
Boomers see Millennials’ disregard for traditional practices as disrespectful to history and values of the past.
Casual Approach to Dating
Boomers might be put off by Millennials’ casual dating habits. They feel that Millennials are not serious or interested in long-term relationships.. They are worried that it would damage family values and attachments.
Poor Language Skills
Boomers often criticize Millennials for poor language skills in writing and speaking. They see the use of text slang, emojis, and casual language as unprofessional and bad for clear communication.
Lack of Empathy
Boomers sometimes think Millennials lack empathy. This is because Millennials focus too much on themselves and technology, which they feel causes an emotional gap from others.
Lack of Face-to-Face Communication Skills
Boomers think Millennials lack face-to-face communication skills and rely too much on tech-based communication. They believe that face-to-face interactions are important for building relationships and effective communication.
46% of Boomers say that they prefer talking face-to-face with colleagues, compared to only 35% of Millennials.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.