Posted by Craig Middleton on March 29, 2017 at 11:55am
Millennials are on track to surpass baby boomers as the largest group. When this happens, millennials will be the dominant force in the workplace and in various other spheres of life. But even now, millennials are changing the workplace for the better. The great thing about this is that most of the changes will make life easier for employers.
More Democracy
Businesses are adopting a more democratic approach. Millennials believe that it is not necessary for someone to have a title in order to be a leader. Therefore, more democratic leadership formats are more likely to not have as many managers. Millennials prefer to make decisions by taking a vote. Millennials want to know everything that is going on in their organization rather than handling everything on a need-to-know basis.
More Technology
Millennials are a generation that has had access to digital technology their entire lives — they are often called digital natives. Therefore, it is much easier to make digital upgrades in the workplace without employees being confused. Given that digitizing the workplace often leads to greater cost savings and more efficiency for businesses, this is very beneficial.
More Transparency
The role that the employee plays in the workplace and in society matters to millennials. They would like to know how the work they do plays a role in how profitable their company is. For older managers, the best solution is to embrace this.
Employees who feel involved in the workplace are more likely to be invested and work as hard as possible to make their companies successful. Another great thing about this characteristic is that millennials are looking to be inspired by their employers and are very motivated by the mission statement.
More Flexibility
Millennials want the workplace to give them the power to work when they want, where they want. This has lead to more employers offering employees opportunities where they are able to telecommute. This also helps save money on office space costs and can reduce the amount of time that millennials wish to take off.
More Flightiness
While most of the ways that millennials are changing the workplace are positive, one downside is that millennials crave change. As a result, they are much more likely to change their jobs than older generations. They need to feel as if they are progressing in some way or they are more likely to go elsewhere. This is where service awards and other strategies for providing employees with recognition come in. With awards, millennials can receive the recognition that they crave and are likely to be much more loyal to the workplace.
More Cordiality
Millennials would like to be on friendly terms with their supervisors and prefer to work with their employers rather than working for them. This may be challenging for employers who are more used to a top-down hierarchy. It can be difficult to make time to communicate with all of your employees, especially when you have a large business. Fortunately, there are tools including social media and Youtube that can assist employers in overcoming these challenges.
Releasing a private video that employees can watch of you discussing the company’s progress and where you intend to take it from here can help millennials feel as if they have a closer relationship with you. Also, don’t forget to hold informal events such as office parties. Adapting to each new generation is a challenge, but those employers who best meet these challenges will have an edge over the competition and attract the most talented and tech-savvy employees.