We’ve all heard the stereotypes. Millennials are lazy, entitled, and self-obsessed. And with the baby boomers retiring from the lab, millennial med techs are now filling up job openings. As a lab manager, this may be a reason for anxiety. Given what we’ve heard about the millennials’ work attitude, how can these incoming hires fit into a task-oriented, team-based environment like the laboratory?

 “Laziness” seems to be one of the most enduring labels stuck onto the millennial generation. They’re always thought of as idle for refusing to do the nitty-gritty work. But from Blackburn’s experience, this may be a misconception. Millennials “just seek easier ways of getting things done” and prefer to work smarter, not harder.

Millennials are also comparatively more flexible and can switch tasks more easily. “They are more willing to change their hours to accommodate business needs than are workers from other generations,” said Blackburn. She also noted, however, that issues can arise from their desire for flexibility. “They want a lot of flexibility from their employers with regard to scheduling, which is an issue in a clinical lab where turnaround time is critical.”

Millennial employees typically have direct and frank opinions – an openness that could benefit the team. If there’s something that they don’t understand, they will ask. If they have suggestions about improving the workflow, you will hear about it.

This could further exemplify this generation’s lessened reverence to hierarchy. They don’t feel the need to shy away from stating their suggestions just because they’re in the lower branch of the org chart. They’re more likely to question a superior the way they question their peers. This shift in work attitude usually clashes with the older generation of med techs.

Reward systems have also significantly evolved between generations. Millennials respond greatly to feedback and recognition. Whereas baby boomers may feel that they don’t need affirmation since they’re only doing their job. Blackburn also stated that, “Millennials need more encouragement but less direction. Job security does not worry them as much as other generations, likely because parents now support their children up until their late 20s.”