Millennials and the workplace: What do they look for?

Millennials and the workplace have a relationship that businesses need to learn more about because they are already the biggest segment in the labor force. Not only that but Generation Y, as they are also known, will be 75% of the workforce by the year 2030. Guest writer Stella tells us more about what millennials look for in the job environment.

Employers, take note

Millennials are the ones employers will be doing for many years to come. The labour market is expanding and will continue to do so, so millennials will get more job offers than they used to, allowing them to be picky. In other words, you as a business owner will have to stay competitive.

The following attributes are what millennials seek and expect from a promising job. Providing millennials with these features will ensure you are their first choice.

1. Clear mission for millennials and the workplace

Research shows that close to 70% of millennials place high priority on giving back. And employers are, therefore, more likely to attract employees of this generation with their focus on doing good

Furthermore, Gen Yers want to work with a company that clearly lays out its purpose and vision statement. They are looking to change the world in some way; they can leave their mark when the organization’s mission is clearly stated for them.

Millennials want to give their contribution to their mission, feeling more motivated to work and stay in a company if they think the company bears positive influence on society. They will be more engaged with an organization that shows these traits.

2. A collaborative and inspiring culture

Millennials are known for their principles and respect a company culture that aligns with their values. One study revealed that 86% of millennials are even ready to take a considerable cut in their pay if that means they could move to a company with a missiona and values similar to their own.

Actually, it isn’t a big surprise because millennials do look closely at a company’s values before they make the final decision. As a whole, they look for a company that encourages collaboration and motivation, as well as innovation and readiness to invest in employees’ professional development.

Given this information, it’s likely best to promote your company by sharing its culture and values online for prospective team members to see as clear as possible. Also, sharing your current employees’ experience on social media and stressing the importance of investing in continued learning of your employees can also go a long way toward recruiting Gen Yers.

Make sure that a positive working environment is visible in your photos and videos, as well as in real life too, obviously. Let millennials see that they, too, will be able to contribute to growing the company culture.

Finally, let the millennial know that she or he will be able to improve and change the company’s culture the way they see it. It can be so many things, including getting more frequent feedback, rearranging the working space, and planning team building exercises. It’s a situation that everybody will benefit from.

3. Flexible working hours and remote work option

Not so long ago, it was necessary to be physically present at work to be able to do your job effectively. Today, employees can do a lot of work obligations outside the office, even from the comfort of their homes.

The reason behind this is the incredible development of technology. When it comes to millennials and the workplace, a whopping 92% are in favor of remote work, even just for a single day a week.

In other words, millennials expect flexible working schedules when the situation allows it. To meet these expectations, companies can potentially offer a day or two in the week when their employees can choose to stay at home and do their job from there.

The important thing is to choose your employees carefully, namely those who are trustworthy, even if they are not directly in your line of sight. You will also benefit from it – remote teams have shown a boost in productivity over in-house teams.

With tablets and phones always at the side of many in Generation Y, they have the ability to do their job wherever they are. And with clear instructions and clear targets, they’re ready to get the work done, which is great news for a manager.

The focus is on the outcome and respecting the deadline. If those two goals are met, then who cares where or how the employee did it? Who cares if the millennial was wearing their pyjamas, laying in bed, while getting the job done?

4. Millennials and the workplace: Comfortable with perks

Little things make the workplace comfortable and relaxing. Millennials expect an office that takes care of their basic needs, and more.

They expect to have healthy snacks within their reach, for example. Make sure the eats you offer in the office include a vegan diet too because you don’t want anybody to feel excluded.

As far as quality coffee goes, it’s best to have a good coffee machine like one of BluePod Coffee Machines, where your millennial is just one click away from an excellent cup of coffee, exactly the way they like it.

Finally, the ability to bring their pets to work is a huge advantage for many millennials. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy being able to have their fluffy friend close to them at all times?

5. Paternity leave and eldercare support opportunities

Responsibility for children and elders is important to millennials generally too. Especially those in managerial positions express their strong desire to take paternity leave.

Modern dads want to be with their kids as much as possible and be there for their partners, too. Some companies understand that need, making it easier for their employees to juggle work and family life by supporting them.

In the case of millennials with extensive caregiving duties, you don’t want them to feel excluded from the team. Support their caregiving needs and don’t allow them to feel like they can’t contribute as much as others at work.

6. Support from the management team

Millennials don’t typically appreciate being thrown into a working atmosphere where they are expected to fend for themselves in the chaos of unclear assignments in order to prove their worth.

This generation wants the company to be there for them and to make the effort to set them in the right direction. They also want to know they can bring their full selves to the workplace. An employer who supports LGBT+ and does not discriminate for any other reason is likely to be one that they gravitate towards.

In other words, they expect their team and managers want them to succeed in what they do and to provide relevant training. Bite-size pieces of info are best for training them overall, including short paragraphs for reading materials and info they can skim between meetings or on the go.

Continuous training is important too. Furthermore, give them purpose to help them see where there is value in their work to help motivate them.

More about millennials and the workplace:

7. Corporate learning opportunities

Getting stuck in one position and making no progress doesn’t align with anything discussed above so try to avoid it for your employees. The opportunity to learn and develop fits with the information above, so the best way to hold on to your Generation Y staffers is to give them the spaces in which to learn.

That way, they will feel they can make a positive impact on the company, so if you enable them to learn quickly and effectively. They will appreciate it.

8. Learn-from-failure atmosphere

No employee will enjoy working in a place where they are not allowed to make a mistake. First of all, they could be new at what they do, which will make it almost impossible and highly stressful for them.

Secondly, employees who are allowed room for failure feel braver trying out new ways of doing their job than those not given this space. This freedom to fail could lead to discovering more productive ways of doing business and improve efficiency.

But the most important thing is for the boss to celebrate the employee’s failure in a way because it’s a sign of a proactive person. As long as the employee doesn’t repeat the same mistake, they are on their way to progress and development, which has to be supported by their superior.

9. Innovation

It’s very hard for any company nowadays to stay competitive without discovering new ways of doing business, techniques, and methods. Innovation is the main force of any successful and long-lasting company.

Not only do you need to support innovation, but you must include millennials in it. As a whole, they want more than just to be a part of the innovative actions – they want to be the driving force behind it.

10. Real responsibilities

Of course, millennials are aware of their position at a company, but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel they cannot take on responsibility for certain tasks. They want their chance to speak up, to manage at certain times, and to have control of certain aspects.

While most employees expect guidance and help throughout the process, they will also appreciate if their boss trusts them enough to give them a fair share of responsibility in a certain project.

11. Volunteering millennials and the workplace

Engage your team in some kind of volunteering project. Volunteering boosts engagement in employees, encourages teamwork, and enhances relationships among the employees.

It is also a great reason to get out of the office and do something good for your community. Millennials are all about making a difference in the world, so this is the way to make them pick you.

12. Work-life balance

When it comes to Generation Y, generally it’s clear that they value balance between having a fulfilling job and a quality personal life. Even though they are ready to work hard, they don’t appreciate being stolen all of their free time for the sake of the company’s success.

So, if you expect a lot from your millennial employee, you need to be ready to offer them some perks to help them balance their work with their personal life.

For example, you can offer them unlimited vacation policies, free lunches, or even dinners if they are expected to stay and work overtime. Perhaps cover their dry cleaning bill or provide another useful perk.

Final words on millennials and the workplace

Millennials are changing the labor market. They are the driving force behind the innovations in how today’s business work. So, embrace them and make sure to meet needs and requirements – it’s the surest way your company will continue to make progress.

About today’s writer

Stella Ryne is an art historian, traveller, conscious consumer and a proud mother. When she is not trying to improve the things around her (and herself, for that matter), she likes to lose herself in a good book. Stay in touch with Stella via Twitter and Facebook.