Millennials’ tolerance for large corporations waned in 2019. Many disrupted the world of work by protesting corporate actions or lack of action, quitting their jobs, and looking elsewhere for ways to make a living.
This disturbing trend is critical to corporations because Millennials already comprise the largest generation in the workforce as of 2016. And by 2025, they will dominate it, making up 75% of the labor force.
A growing number of the Millennial generation expressed dim views of corporations and their leaders over the last couple of years.
A Brookings Institute study revealed that 83% believe a few large companies hold too much power. Moreover, the 2019 Deloitte Millennial study revealed:
- The percentage of Millennials who believe business is having a positive impact on society dropped from 76% in 2017 to 55% in 2019.
- 26% of Millennials have no trust in business leaders.
- Close to half would quit their jobs over the next two years if they had a choice.
In 2019, many acted on the views they expressed in these surveys.
Employees Engaged in Activism
This year Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s largest public relations firms, researched employee activism defined as “employees speaking up for or against their employers.” They found close to half of the Millennials surveyed (48%) have engaged in activism. A few clear examples illustrate the point.
Over the past couple of years, workers in several iconic companies in the USA, if not the world, have asked their employers to take a stand on a variety of social and political issues. During 2019 alone, employees signed petitions, protested, and walked-out in growing numbers.
Amazon employees staged walk-outs related to labor practices and working conditions, organized Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, and signed petitions urging the company to cut ties with government agencies responsible for deportation.
Employees of Google petitioned the company to stop contracting with federal immigration agencies such as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). They also staged a walk-out related to protests concerning sexual harassment. In November, the company, famous for an open and attractive culture, cracked down on these protests. They fired a couple of employees who they say were involved in organizing protests over unfair labor practices. An article in Wired Magazine referred to Google as “a company that has lost its way.”
Millennials Rejected Corporate Jobs
Millennials increasingly wish to work in jobs outside of the corporate mainstream.
Some reject corporate career paths from the start. Elshadai Smith-Mensah works for Canopy, an organization that helps grow businesses in Kentucky to have a positive impact on people and the planet. She says that she turned away from pursuing a corporate career because she feared feeling like a cog in a wheel. Alex Page, also a Canopy employee, said her choice of work direction resulted from a recognition that the traditional business landscape needs to shift.
Other Millennials choose to leave jobs when they experience misalignment with their values or lack of opportunity for high social impact.
Experiencing his job as lacking in meaning, Sebrand Warren, a user experience designer, left a lucrative position in a well-known, high-tech company. He is looking for a way to use his skills to make a clear, positive difference in the world. Since he exited his large company employer, he has found many in his age cohort who have done the same.
Millennials are the least engaged generation in the workplace, according to a Gallup study. More willing than others to jump from job to job, a large percentage expect to leave their employers within a couple of years.
High turnover hurts companies. Therefore, wise employers will look for ways to increase employee loyalty. One solution is to ensure that members of their workforce view their jobs as impactful.
A Cone Communications study of Millennials reported that 83% would be more loyal to the companies that allow them to contribute to social and environmental issues. And three quarters would take a pay cut to work for a socially responsible company.
What happens if this Millennial anti-large corporation trend continues to grow? Most likely, employment-seekers of this generation will turn to companies truly committed to making business a force for good. And the competition to attract and retain talent will continue to squeeze large companies.
Looking Ahead to 2020
The year 2020 may find an ever-increasing exodus of Millennials from corporate jobs. Or perhaps they will stay in their positions while pressing their employers to take action on issues of social and political concern. Either way, companies cannot afford to ignore or dismiss these trends.
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