Generational conflict—friction between two generations in the workplace—is a well-worn story. Even in the current era of three or even four generations in the workplace, making the dynamic more complicated, it’s nothing new. And if the past informs the future, we know that after some jostling and adjusting, the new kids figure out who’s in charge (that would be the older folks), settle in, and everyone gets back to work.
So the Millennial generation (those born between 1977 and 1997) should be no exception, right? Not so much. Millennials, who will account for 40% of the U.S. workforce by 2020, require more than their predecessors did in terms of investment in development on the part of their employers.