Millennials in the Workplace
First things first, what is a millennial? People born between 1981-1996 (25-40 years old) are categorised into the millennial generation.
Millennials have grown to be the largest working population over the past few years. At Archway nearly everyone apart from our directors are millennials. We also work with them alot when recruiting.
We’ve pulled together some strategies to help anyone looking at ways to attract, retain or develop millennials.
Create Real Connections.
Millennials are happiest when they feel connected to their team. Millennials see their work as a second home, with many wanting to create a ‘social’ workplace. With so much technology it can negatively impact human skills at work. Lead by example and create human ways of interacting, try reducing emails by walking up to people’s desks or picking up the phone instead. Having face time for meetings, coffee catch ups and regular 1:1 forums. At Archway we have face to face meetings scheduled every week to ensure we get together as a team.
Millennials don’t like to be micromanaged, they like to be led.
If you are a manager, you tell people what to do however a leader shows people a goal and helps give them the right tools to achieve it. You’ll find employees are more productive and engaged in their work when they are left to direct the day themselves.
Transparency is key.
Traditional management style can be quite hierarchy based and only those more senior have a voice in the company. However millennials often want to be heard and have an active involvement in decision making and a chance to provide feedback. Many modern workplaces regularly consult with staff at all levels and encourage millennials to provide feedback which helps build a strong psychological contract with the business and develops greater engagement from their staff. Transparency is a core part of our ethos at Archway – before any decision is made we refer to this principle and engage with the business as a whole to gauge their views. We believe this is crucial to maintain an inclusive and positive culture and is one of the key reasons our team enjoys working at Archway.
Driving change they want to see in the world.
Covid19 has heightened concerns for millennials, with now more than ever a desire to create a better “normal” for the world. In a recent study by Deloitte 75% of millennials identified their passion for climate change and environmental impact concerns as being crucial values they hold. Millennials value businesses that care about their staff, environmental issues and engagement in the community ahead of profit. As a result Corporate Social Responsibility should now be a key item on the agenda for most modern organisations.
Benefits beyond the paycheck.
Whilst paychecks play a big part of the job offer, millennials want more! When recruiting we often find millennials look at the full package beyond their paycheck. Benefits include options for health and life insurance, additional annual leave entitlements, company shares and – of course – flexibility in workplace and hours.
It is worth the effort.
Making changes in your business will ensure you retain great staff, secure talent and improve the overall culture within a business. It is certainly well worth the effort!
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Research and Resources used to develop this blog:
The clever team at Archway Recruitment
Deloitte Millennial Survey 2020
Forbes.com
