The millennial generation, born between 1980 and 2000, numbers more than 80 million, and they are entering the workplace in greater numbers each year. For HVAC contractors, this trend is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, younger workers are needed to replace the large number of service technicians who are quickly approaching retirement age, but on the other, this generation comes with a unique set of challenges.
As Mike Atchley, president, Atchley Air, Fort Smith, Ark., noted: “Millennials require a lot of attention. They are extremely confident in their abilities – sometimes a bit too confident – and attention is needed to make sure they don’t get in over their heads. They aren’t afraid of anything, but it does take more work to keep them happy and focused.”