Title

HUMAN RESOURCES

Millennials – love them or hate them?

The term millennials is being used and adopted more frequently around talent attraction and development strategies. This is hugely positive and encouraging to hear, however, far too often it is being used in a negative and derogatory way.

Millennials – love them or hate them?

The term millennials is being used and adopted more frequently around talent attraction and development strategies. This is hugely positive and encouraging to hear, however, far too often it is being used in a negative and derogatory way.

The ‘Snowflake Generation' is referred to as narcissistic, self-obsessed, lazy and entitled in many surveys and it is often these traits that are being highlighted. Hardly the list of character traits you would seek when recruiting. While you cannot argue with the research and findings, you can choose to change your optics. Often I find those who see these traits first are those with a more traditional approach to change and unsure of what millennials might mean for their organisation.

Upbeat, open-minded, questioning and passionate about equality are also traits that describe millennials, and we should be focusing on these. It is these traits that the public sector craves when seeking innovation and new ways of delivering public services during austerity. Millennials are the future workforce and if organisations do not adapt their structures, work patterns and expectations then they will not attract, retain or benefit from millennials, and their liberal thinking and desire to create and own something that adds value to the world other than profit. Public sector organisations must find ways to attract millennials and hold positive career conversations that will unlock and unleash their talent.

It is a role everyone in the organisation must be accountable for.

Anthony Lewis is a director, executive interim, at Penna

Anthony.lewis@penna.com

HUMAN RESOURCES

How councils will fare under Fair Funding 2.0

By Jonathan Meek | 04 September 2025

Simon Christian and Jonathan Meek analyse the impact of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 on different council types and highlight the winners and losers among the...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Inclusive leadership for a resilient tomorrow

By Dawn Faulkner | 04 September 2025

Dawn Faulkner says it’s time to celebrate the contributions of women in the public sector landscape and that the stories we tell will help shape the leaders ...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Shifting the levers of control to the local

By Max Wide | 03 September 2025

Max Wide says it is time to fundamentally alter the dynamics of the relationships between localities and the institutions that serve them, and he sets out fo...

HUMAN RESOURCES

New politics, new tensions

By Rob Whiteman | 02 September 2025

As Reform UK gathers this week for its annual conference, Rob Whiteman argues that with the party gaining control of some councils, local government must sup...

Popular articles by Anthony Lewis