Today’s younger generation is motivated by creative thinking and growth and looking for ways to make progress quickly. Millennials make up the majority of the workforce today and employers are trying to understand how Millennials are motivated, as well as their expectations in order to attract them to their companies and keep them engaged. According to www.workboard.com 91% of Millennials expect to stay in a job for three years or less. This is, in fact, because they’re multicultural and extremely practiced at mufti-tasking, Millennials want diverse work activities and experiences.
In order to effectively attract and retain Millennials in the workplace the employer should consider the following criteria: the people, the work and the opportunity.
The first criteria, The People: Millennials look at the people they work with as an important part of their work experience. Millennials place a strong value on their teams, bosses/mentors, and friends in the workplace. Employers need to create an environment where Millennials can develop friendships and feel secure that their managers and mentors are trained well and have time to connect.
Next, The Work: Millennials want their work to be meaningful, and they look for social responsibility. Millennials value a work/life balance and require support for that balance and do not want to be plugged into work at all times. In order to attract and retain Millennials, employers need to improve workplace flexibility and create a structure of work that is interesting &meaningful work that gives them a balanced life and to enjoy the things and people they consider important.
Finally, the opportunity. Millennials have a worry that they won’t be competitive in the job market. They are consistently interested in opportunities that offer flexibility, a competitive salary, and growth & development. Millennials value independence and like to learn and grow. The Center for Creative Leadership (www.ccl.org) says Millennials want to advance and are appreciative when they are supported in their efforts.
Millennials want and require the ability to continually develop. To retain Millennials in the workplace, HR leaders and managers need to give them access to development opportunities. As stated before, Millennials are looking for growth opportunities, and their managers should help them create a strategy that supports what they want in their careers and what they need to do in order to make it happen.
Millennials still need to be given direction and instructions for what is required of them for their position. However, when an employer takes the time to get to know the Millennials within the workplace, build meaningful relationships and offer them opportunities to build and grow in their positions, Millennials are more likely to stay within the organization and have a greater impact to the bottom line and the overall health of the company.
For more information on identifying the key drivers that motivate your employees and create engagement, visit TheCultureExperts.com today!