How to understand millennials in the workplace?

The millennial workers who are past the childhood threshold are constantly under the radar. The truth is that millennial generation is the all-time most overanalysed and over-scrutinised demographic. Marketers term this generation as the most challenging bunch to engage with and manage. Employers and managers struggling to retain and manage millennial employees should check out these tips.

Maintain Work-life Balance

The millennial generation has been the force behind recent changes in work-life balance. Work-life balance has been a buzz among the younger generation, with many striving to balance their life and work. Most of today’s job functions don’t require workers to be physically present at the office. The traditional eight working hours will soon become an outdated concept. Tech advancements have redefined modern workplaces. With technology, millennial workers can work seamlessly from anywhere. Consequently, millennial workers have become more approachable than before. Younger workers are always available and willing to work even during off-hours. Checking work progress and emails on smartphones during vacations and holidays has been made easier by technology.

Create Career Growth Opportunities

No generation is as highly career-oriented as the millennial. Young people are always looking for new opportunities to advance their careers. With every career opportunity, they want to evolve, grow and learn. The millennial workers are terrified of stagnation and always want to have a progressive career. Workplaces must facilitate career growth opportunities to attract and retain the younger generation. A culture of fairness and transparency has become a norm in most workplaces. Millennial employers want to work in companies where recognition and reward efforts are visible. Other ways to facilitate career growth for millennial workers include investing in development and learning programs and acknowledging the importance of personal growth.

Workplace Inclusion and Diversity

Millennial workers are more socially aware and acknowledge, appreciate, recognise, and encourage diversity. The internet has made the world more connected in unimaginable ways. Thus, making the younger generation more racially and culturally diverse than no other generation. For millennial workers, diversity matters more than the job offer and company profile. Their outlook towards racial and cultural diversity differs from the previous generations. To them, diversity includes the infusion of varying experiences, different perspectives, and new ideas. Millennial workers are enthusiastic, and they welcome workplace diversity. Organisations need to invest in more inclusion and diversity initiatives to retain millennial workers.

Supporting Community Initiatives

Millennial workers are highly socially responsible. One way the younger generation is redefining the modern workplace is by giving back to society. They are constantly looking for benefits and perks that can make the world a better place. Young workers are optimistic about their abilities and acknowledge their role in bettering the world. Again, digitalisation has contributed to this. Millennial workers are more aware of their surroundings than before. They understand their role in combating environmental and social issues. A 2015 study found that 70 percent of millennial employees volunteered their time to a charitable cause, while 84 percent donated money to charity. It has become more crucial for organisations to connect millennial workers to various community initiatives than ever before.

Leadership Cultivation

A higher percentage of millennial workers express a desire to lead. To them, leadership equates to empowerment. Young workers are more willing to take charge of things in their workplaces and voice their concerns. Millennial workers are also more inclined towards problem-solving, relationship building, communication, and decision-making. Employers and managers must emphasise nurturing leadership and not just telling millennial how to improve their performance. Mentoring and modelling leadership skills at an early stage can help cultivate leadership among the younger generation.

Promote Teamwork

Most millennial workers find collaborative work more satisfying and rewarding than competition-driven one. Young workers are excellent team players and like collaborating and telling stories about each other. Their performance gets better when working as a team. Millennial employees also appreciate input and ideas from people with diverse backgrounds and outlooks. The truth is that youths believe teamwork brings the best out of them. It is time employers realise that millennial workers live in a hyper-connected world. Collaboration is an integral part of their lifestyle. Young adults find fun in sharing ideas and views, which is why collaborative work environments have become a norm. Companies have to live up to the expectations of millennial workers to avoid disengaging them.