The fundamentals for workplace satisfaction are undergoing a dramatic shift as more millennials enter the workforce. Five years ago, salary was expected to be the number one driver of career satisfaction, but a recent PayScale study on millennials in the technology and software industries reveals something quite different.
The study showed that millennials in the workplace want to know they're making the world a better place. “A sense of meaning is important to the Millennial workforce,” Aubrey Bach, senior editorial manager at PayScale, told SFGate.com in an interview. “Job meaning and job satisfaction have a big impact on the types of workers these companies are attracting.”
With millennials predicted to make up 50% of the workforce by 2020, the competition for attracting the best talent is on. Check out these five tips for creating a workplace and culture that Millennials will flock to.
1. Flexibility
Millennials understand that meeting deadlines and client expectations are their No. 1 priority, but they want to have choices on how, when and where they work on these items. Flexible schedules and workstations, the ability to work from home, and dedicated vacation and sick time can all be ways to provide the flexibility they crave.
2. On-The-Job Training
Millennials not only want on-the-job training, they expect it and see training as an investment being made in them.
“A common critique of millennials in the workplace is they are impatient, entitled, and not willing to put in the time and hard work needed to succeed,” Adam Smiley Poswolsky states in a FastCompany article. “This doesn’t mean millennials aren’t hard workers. On the contrary, millennials will work hard when you get serious about investing in their skills development. Young talent wants the opportunity to learn from someone with expertise; they want that on-the-ground experience to happen today, not tomorrow—and certainly not in five years.”
Pair millennials with seasoned, experienced employees. This will allow them to learn from a mentor, feel valued and also creates an interesting team dynamic that could lead to more innovative ideas.
3. Show Them They’re Valued
Every worker wants to feel like they’re a valued part of the team. For millennials, constant feedback—good or not so good—is a way to nurture them and make them feel like you care. Another way is to create opportunities for them to be part of the decision making process. For example, include them in project kickoffs and encourage them to give feedback and recommendations.
4. A Healthy, Safe Work Environment
A healthy and safe work environment is important to professionals of all ages. From housekeeping to ergonomic workstations to proper maintenance, the pride your company takes in environment, health and safety (EHS) initiatives is attractive to the millennial workers who want to feel valued by their company. In addition, not only do EHS programs work to mitigate risks to employees, but also the public—which ties in with millennial desires to work for an ethical and socially responsible company.
Throughout our consulting work with tech companies, we’ve found that integrating EHS into your corporate culture will show employees their health and safety is something that’s valued throughout the company.
5. Sustainable and Green Practices
Millennials are steadfast in their desire to make a difference in the world and they want to work for a company that’s committed to sustainable and environmentally-friendly business practices. According to a report from WeSpire, 75% of millennials are interested in the sustainability efforts of their coworkers and employer. Recycling programs, energy saving initiatives, incentivized employee ride-sharing programs, and taking your company paperless are great, affordable ways to be greener and more appealing to millennials.
