Talkin' bout my generation
With more and more baby boomers moving out of the work force and Generation X juggling work and family, the reliance on Generation Y in the workplace has never been higher. With this comes the challenge of attracting the best young workers to your business and the even bigger challenge of retaining them.
The first challenge for the companies that want to hire the best young workers is getting them in the door. Rather than entering the workforce immediately after leaving high school or university, Generation Y has more options. Whether it be a working holiday or living with mum and dad, Generation Y don’t feel the pressure of past generations to accept the first offer that comes their way.
With these options, Generation Y is forcing employers to think more creatively about what employees want. Old assumptions about what employee’s value in the workplace don’t always apply with Generation Y.
So what does Generation Y want?
- Work-life flexibility- for these 20 something workers, the line between home and work doesn’t really exist. Do your employees need to work 9 to 5 or could they work 7 to 3? Do they need to be in the office or could they work from home?
- Tech-savvy work environment – Gen Y are familiar with new technology, use this to your businesses advantage.
- Long-term career development with multiple experiences within a single organisation – give them the opportunity for change and development in your business before the look elsewhere.
- Ask for their thoughts and listen to them - Generation Y wants to be heard.
All of this presents employers with a significant challenge. Get it right – provide the sort of culture, incentives, contacts and development opportunities that Gen Y responds to – and you get to attract and keep the brightest. Get it wrong and the chances are they’ll walk.
It’s time to stop whining about Generation Y being “entitled” and instead embrace the power of this generation.