Millennials might have shorter attention spans, but they are apparently less interested in having fun at work than their parents' generation, according to a new report by Gallup.
Actually, the survey by the venerated pollster showed that American workers in general are unlikely to say that having a "fun place to work" is the top priority for them when seeking a job. Less than a quarter of millennials, Gen X-ers, and baby boomers said so, although millennials, who are now the largest group of workers in the U.S., were slightly less likely to say so than the other two groups.
Similarly, nobody appears particularly interested in having an informal workplace, or it is at the very least not a deal breaker. Less than quarter of members of all three generations said having a casual work environment was a top priority.
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Unsurprisingly, the youngest people were significantly more likely than their older peers to prioritize "the opportunity to learn and grow" at their job. Those who are closer to retirement age are less interested in further developing their skills and knowledge of the job.
And that is likely why millennials are so open to the idea of switching jobs. According to the survey, 60 percent are willing to change employers in the next year, and 47 percent believe they will change jobs if the market improves.
In contrast, 40 percent of baby boomers have remained with the same employer for at least 20 years, according to a recent survey by the Associated Press.
Baby boomers are also slightly more likely — to cite "overall compensation" as a priority than millennials and Gen X-ers.
The research counters widely held assumptions that millennials demand fundamentally different experiences than older workers. It also supports prior studies that have shown that young workers value traditional benefits far more than newer, trendier forms of compensation.
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