Slowly the modern workplace is transitioning to a workforce dominated by millennials. Already 10% of the current workforce is millennials (DeVaney). Millennials were born between 1980 and 1999 and are described as multi-taskers and tech-savvy (McCafferty). The major difference between millennials and older generations is that millennials grew up with technology. Smart devices continue to shape the identity of this generation, and create new ways of communicating with coworkers and family members. In addition, technology changes the workplace. Millennials are more team-oriented, balanced, flexible, and more willing to be recognized than older workers. I would argue that the ways that millennials interact with smart technology changes how their roles within the workplace are understood due to increased availability for projects, ease of communication, and overall boosts to their productivity.  Because of this, millennials should be seen as more efficient workers rather than the stereotype of laziness that pervades impressions of the generation. The following essay will assess how communication changes in the workplace, as well as in families, with the use of smart devices.

The millennial generation goes off from the Generation X and shares many different characteristics and habits than other generations. They are between 17 and 36 years old, which makes them the youngest generation in the workplace. Millennials are the largest generation in America with over 70 million people (DeVaney). Engaging with millennials in the workplace is very different compared to the older generations, Generation X and baby boomers. Millennials grew up with smart devices and are more connected online than older generations. Millennials have different characteristics and they are more diverse than other generations. "Forty-seven percent are minority compared to 37 percent for Generation X, 26 percent for baby boomers, and 9 percent for the silent generation. One-fourth of millennials have college degrees, which is similar to other generations" (DeVaney 12). Millennials are expected to have a high level of education to be successful in the workplace. However, they often have a much slower start entering the workforce than other generations because of college loan debt. The College Board stated in 2014 that 60 percent of students who received a bachelor's degree in 2012-2013 had an average student loan debt of $27,300. Millennials have responded in different ways, such as moving back home with their parents, delaying marriage, delaying buying their first home, and starting their own business (DeVaney 12). Money and diversity is not the only difference between millennials and other generations. 

Millennials are described as, "entitled, optimistic, civic minded, close parental involvement, values work-life balance, impatient, multitasking, and team oriented" (DeVaney 13), whereas Generation X has attributes which include, "self-reliant, adaptable, cynical, distrusts authority, resourceful, entrepreneurial, and technologically savvy" (DeVaney 13), and baby boomers are characterized as "workaholic, idealistic, competitive, loyal, materialistic, seeks personal fulfillment, and values titles and the corner office" (DeVaney 13). The millennials, Generation X, and the baby boomers have different attributes which gives each a unique identity.  The interaction and connection between millennials and Generation X are especially important for the workplace. Both generations will work together for the next two decades and will rely on each other. Reverse mentorship is a new trend in the United States in which, "millennials take older employees under their wing to teach them how most corporate revenue problems can be solved with a few social-media tricks, and why you shouldn't ever leave voicemails for anyone" (Schrobsdorff 1). Susanna Schrobsdorff is a late baby boomer who has "high hopes for this arrangement. We are increasingly codependent generations. Millennials need boomers and older Gen X-ers so they know what to improve on. And we need millennials to get our ideas across" (Schrobsdorff 1). When combined, the characteristics of these three generations promote productivity in the workplace. Millennials have a very different mindset about working than older generations. Millennials have a very positive mindset about working and their work-life balance. They want the feeling of being needed, as well as savoring the daily satisfaction of a job well done. David Caraher (2015) has written about the millennial mindset. She quotes a recruiter as saying, "It's not a question of whether or not they are right for the job, it's a question of is the job right for them" (DeVaney 13). In addition, millennials do not believe in the ladder concept, working their way up in a big company. Many millennials prefer to work in smaller companies where they make a "bigger impact" (DeVaney 13). "One millennial said that she had moved several times because, "No one told me why what I was doing mattered" (DeVaney 13). Most millennials think that responding to communications about work matters outside of normal hours are simply part of the job, even if they're on vacation. Dennis McCafferty, an author who concludes research studies about the millennial generation says;

Fifty-eight percent prefer to communicate on work matters via e-mail, compared to 15% who prefer to text and just 5% who favor IM and chat tools. 70% say face-to-face discussions are the most effective and productive way to communicate with their bosses.73% say their organization provides the right mix of office environments to be productive. 77% of Millennials and Gen Xers feel they maintain a good work-life balance (McCafferty 1). 

Even though Generation Xers grew up without certain technology, such as cell phones or iPad, they still agree with millennials on many things, such as a good work-life balance and a good balance of office environment and productivity. This is an important aspect for millennials and Generation Xers to get along well in the workplace over the next two or three decades. 

Millennials are on the verge of dominating the workplace, which means smart devices gain a larger importance than ever before. As millennials enter the workplace the first hurdle they encounter is their integration with older generation in the particular organization.  Newcomers learn about social norms and how to gain others' acceptance. Millennials have to earn the trust of older generations and they also have to trust their coworkers in order to maximize productivity.  Membership negotiation is the term for the ongoing, interactional communication processes among members during socialization (Myers 229). In addition, he states, "Millennials and Generation Xers may not share baby boomer's beliefs and values, where building a career is not the primary motivator for most Millennials. Instead, work is a less significant part of their personal identities, instrumental to supporting the lifestyle they desire" (230). Millennials, other than older employees believe in a healthy and strong relationship with their boss. It is foundational for negotiating their roles initially, as well as for their long-term satisfaction in the organization (Myers 230). Millennials value communication, much more than previous generations, which is demonstrated by their willingness for open and honest communication with coworkers, as well as with their supervisor. Communication is a vital aspect of a good workplace environment. While millennials grew up with technology, Generation X did not have any smart devices until the 1990s, when Generation X entered the workplace. Generation Xers did not use much technology other than e-mail. Millennials bring new technological devices, which result in faster and easier communication, as well as constantly being connected with others (Ward 174). Even though, millennials use many smarter devices than 25 years ago, they still consider face-to-face communication with their boss or coworkers as important. Karen Myers describes the will for open communication as a communication issue when millennials enter the workplace, because millennials are more team-oriented, optimistic, and more open-minded than newcomers from previous generational cohorts, according to some empirical studies (231).

 Myers continues and states that millennials "are more comfortable with new interactive and networked media than are older generations; they spend more time with media per week than do other generations." She goes on and says that millennials' comfort with new media technologies suggests that they bring to the workplace potentially beneficial characteristics related to the use of communication and information technologies (CITs), such as the Web and instant messaging (231). Since technological communication has impacted millennials' lives so much in the early years, it could be hypothesized that it is their favored methods of maintaining contact and receiving information (Ogbeide 335). However, fast and easy communication does not necessarily foster relationships and good behavior in person. Millennials have to learn when and if technology is appropriate in the workplace and they need to be able to navigate this "office-personal balance". "For example, while the job may require you to answer emails or take phone calls at 10 o'clock at night that does not mean it is appropriate to be on your personal Twitter account or text your friends during work hours. Students can quickly understand when behavior is inappropriate or NSFW (Not Safe for Work)" (Ward 174). A good balance of technological communication and face-to-face communication is very healthy for the workplace environment. It is productive for workers to know about specific dates or meetings. Godwin-Charles Ogbeide concludes from his study that for "meetings and events professionals should consider the combination of technology and face-to-face communication to create a buzz or viral venues to generate buzz about events and meetings, which might encourage Millennials to attend." In addition, he states that for such events or meetings companies should "incorporating technology, such as Wi-Fi availability and technology that incorporate audience polling for immediate feedback" (342), because feedback and criticism is vital for millennials' satisfaction and productivity in a workplace. It is an expectation for the younger millennials. 

Millennials value the importance of family and friends, it is a major aspect of their lives. However, the negative side of smart devices are noted that the peer-like relationship between parents and their Millennial generation children hinders children from developing autonomy. A study shows that college and university-aged kids are in contact with their parents on average 22 times per week, compared to only 13 times in 2007 and 10 times in 1999, when texting was not popular. Parents and children stay in contact through cell phone calls, texting, emailing, and skyping (which is nowadays facetime). The same study concluded that those who are in contact with their parents the most are the "the least autonomous and the least self-regulating." For instance, they "learned of mothers and fathers calling to wake up their kids on exam day or to remind them of upcoming deadlines; and of students who enlisted their parents to resolve romantic troubles or conflicts with professors" (Gully 1). Research shows that this new generation needs much longer until they reach independence. On average, it takes up to college graduation for young adults to be independent and to make their own decisions without asking for backup from parents. 

It is not only university-aged students who use smart devices, such as cell phones, even middle school students often have some kind of smart phone. It is easy to always communicate by cell phone, so face-to-face conversations decrease, especially in families. Some parents make rules, such as "20 minutes of no technology during dinner" (Silent n.p..), which is the only time when families are united and have a face-to-face conversation. In addition, "according to a Nielsen study, 83 percent of millennials say they sleep with their smartphones", as well as most people do not know how to make eye contact anymore (Silent n.p.)  "The fact that so few millennials know how to communicate helps make those who do know how to have a real conversation shine.  It's sad that so few people in this generation have a strong work ethic, but it means that they will be the few and the proud that succeed" (SPM web p.). It is a lot more convenient for children/young adults and parents to use these tools to stay in contact, however it can hinder students from developing autonomy, and losing the emotional connection to family. 

Millennials may lose many of the behaviors that Generation Xers have, such as keeping relationships going and making eye-contact in a face-to-face conversation. An example of lost relationships is class reunions. Nowadays, people do not attend class reunions because "they already know what everyone in their class has been doing" through all the different kinds of social media websites. However, it is not just the millennials who sometimes live in a virtual world. Many children suffer from lack of parenting, because parents may be staring at a screen while their child falls off a teeter totter. "I've seen so many parents plop their kids down at the playground and then sit on the bench with their phones," Rich says. "We delude ourselves into thinking that we're multitasking, but all kinds of cognitive research show that this really isn't the case. We can only really concentrate on one thing at a time" (Novotney 52). In addition, Amy Novotney states that child development experts fear that children may feel they are competing for attention when parents are glued to their gadgets. Smartphone use may even be harming children's social development, with children seeing that their parents think that socializing with a screen as just as good as face-to-face interaction" (Novotney 52). On the other hand, smartphones can be beneficial for parents and children. They allow parents to work anywhere at any time, which gives families more time together. "The key to responsible smartphone use is to be more deliberate in our use of technology in an age when we are constantly surrounded by it" (Novotney 52). A happy and healthy life is about the most precious commodities in life -- our time and attention. Smartphones can help families and friends to spend more time together if they are mindful about their use. However, most people have never learned how to be mindful about the use of smart devices, which causes more childhood diseases and the death of face-to-face communications.

 However, on the other side, communication with family members through cell phone calls and text messaging is vital for millennials. Millennials feel more connected with family members and friends through smart devices. Technological communication with parents has been going on for a long time, however, it is a lot quicker, more often, and more in detail than ever before. Conversations include, reviewing past conversations, talking about plans in the near and far future, or talking about college classes and workplace issues. In addition, Millennials ask their parents for advice in difficult situations. Parents claim that they talk more with their children on cell phones. In addition smart devices allow millennials to spend more time with family, because with smart technology one can work outside of the office. Millennials only need to be very mindful of their use of smart devices. An overuse outside of the workplace would be a step in the wrong direction of the efficiency of smart devices, especially if millennials want to spend time with families. 

Millennials use smart devices, such as cell phones, tablets, or computers because they are very time efficient and very productive in the workplace. They allow an increase in productivity of companies with faster communication between coworkers. In addition, smart devices allow employees to work anywhere at any time, which permits workers to spend more time outside of the office. The issue is that millennials grew up with smart devices, which can hinder face-to-face communication, the longevity of relationships, and the health of the human brain. Especially outside of the workplace, many people are concerned about the millennial's use of smart devices. In addition, not only millennials are affected by the overuse of smart devices. Older generations are affected just as much by the technology boom and use their smart devices outside of the workplace just as much, which can cause bad parenting and can increase the occurrence of childhood diseases. The solution is that both, millennials and older generations, need to be more mindful of the use of technology. Millennials use smart devices very efficient and mindful in the workplace, but they need to find a point in time where they shut off their smart devices and enjoy time with family and/or friends. 

