Millennial Cleaning Technicians - 2 Steps That Will Lead Younger Employees to Success

As a cleaning business owner, it is discouraging and stressful when cleaning technicians display a lack of desire to work hard or take pride in their work. It can become overwhelming when you realize that more and more employees are displaying this attitude. What's the issue? There is the possibility that it all boils down to the generation gap between you and your millennial cleaning technicians.

The Generation Gap—Challenges House Cleaning Business Owners Face With Younger Employees

The millennial generation—those born after 1982—have a very different attitude toward work and life than do those of the Baby Boomer generation. The difference may lead an employer to think that the younger generation has no work ethic.

Cleaning business owners have noticed that their younger employees often display the following characteristics:

• A personal life crisis affects all aspects of their life, including their job. The result is missed work due to said “crisis.”
• Their approach to time is a bit slack. They may show up to work every day, but they tend to be five, ten or twenty minutes late to work—and they don't understand why that is an issue with the cleaning business owner.

As a business owner, these traits seem worrisome. But are your millennial cleaning technicians really bad employees?

What the Experts Say about Work and the Millennial Generation

Those who study generations and their differences have found that the millennial generation doesn't lack work ethic—theirs is just different from other generations. In fact, according to Ray Williams of Wired for Success, most millennial workers are very ambitious and up to 40% of them plan to be in a managerial position within two years of being hired.

Effectively Leading Millennial Cleaning Technicians—2 Essential Steps

As a cleaning business owner, the ambition of the millennial generation is something you can take advantage of—if you follow these steps.

1. Set Clear Expectations. There are some things that you might take for granted in your business. For example, calling in on a Thursday night to say you need Friday off is unacceptable. Those of the millennial generation might not see things the same way. To them, the fact that they're giving you any notice at all may make them feel like a responsible employee. If you're experiencing some challenges from your younger cleaning technicians, ask yourself if it's really weak work ethic or if it's a manifestation of the generation gap. If the latter is the issue, talk to your employees about your expectations.

Be clear about how much notice you need if they want to request time off, that showing up five minutes late is not the same as showing up on time, and what is considered appropriate work attire. Don't just tell them that things need to get done—explain to them why. When you show your millennial cleaning technicians the reasons behind your rules, they'll be more likely to abide by them.

2. Enhance their Work Experience. There is nothing worse to a millennial than being bored. Ask yourself how to enhance the working experience for your employees. Can they listen to music of their choice if they make sure to use only one ear bud and keep the music at a respectable volume? Can you work with their school schedule, allowing them some flexibility? You might even decide to talk to your millennial workers and find out what motivates them. Such information would be very eye opening and help you enhance their work experience even more.

Closing the Generation Gap Leads to a Successful House Cleaning Business

If there is anything we've learned over the years, it's that there are going to be some misunderstandings and challenges between each generation. Older and newer generations often have a hard time seeing “eye to eye.” This can present either a challenge or an opportunity to business owners.

Having a successful house cleaning business means you will be open for many years to come. As the years progress, you will have to deal with the new generations. How will you handle this?

To ensure continued success, you need to learn how to lead all of your employees, including those of the millennial generation. Do your homework; research how the latest generation thinks and what kind of attitudes they have about work. Then, figure out how to incorporate your new-found knowledge into your business. Doing so will result in happier cleaning technicians, better relationships between you and your staff, and the continued success of your house cleaning business.

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