6 Ways to Make the Workplace Work for Gen Y

Building a winning organization requires key alignment between the product/services one markets and the employees that deliver them. As business leaders we are all looking for the edge in recruiting, rewarding and the retention of the new working generation- Gen Y, also known as millennials. As an entrepreneur with ventures that reside in the creative and technology economies, I have found a few key elements in getting and keeping millennials engaged.

Growth Potential - In order to entice and retain millennial workers, one should show a clear path for the individual’s ability to advance within the company. The value of the experience your company will provide the employee and the variety or diversity of positions, tasks and opportunities will stimulate Gen Y workers.

Job Flexibility-Millennials want the ability to work in an environment and manner that works best for them. Businesses should consider flexible work hours, opportunities to complete projects and tasks outside of the standard protocols, and the opportunity to work remotely provides autonomy while maintaining parameters of deadlines and work quality.

Meaningful Communication - Millennials seek out opportunities to learn and improve. Opening up dialogue to set goals, give praise and provide performance feedback more often than at an annual review allows the employee to grow at a steeper trajectory, which in turn benefits his or her career and your business. 

Rewards and Recognition - The millennial employee thrives off incentives and recognition for accomplishments. In order to cater to that trait, consider incentive programs and employee recognition days, trips or corporate events. Engagement and appreciation of the employees is just as important to retention as salary.

Corporate Social Responsibility - Statistics show that millennials are drawn to organizations who have comprehensive initiatives to support the local community, energy and environment, and other causes. Events centered around giving back also allows organizational team building and cultural cohesiveness.

Ease of Information-The way in which companies communicate needs to evolve as technology advances. Make use of instant messaging, smartphone apps and video conferencing to gain engagement of millennial employees. However, making yourself personally available to your employees and seeking authentic collaboration is increasingly important as digital communication becomes the default.

Whereas in the past, there was a clear hierarchical structure in place to enforce and evaluate work performance, millennials see leaders as respected collaborators. They expect to have their ideas heard, debated and the good ones implemented. From a career perspective, the silver bullet is to provide career growth paths and experiences that outpace the competition for talent. In my experience, when you are building career equity for employees they are more engaged. The team with the best talent creates more opportunities for your business to win.

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