So, what’s up with today’s kids in the workplace?

We can help you develop the most effective ways to relate, manage, and motivate today’s youngest workforce commonly known as Gen Y or Millennials.

They are the fastest growing segment of the work force; their share has grown from 14% to 21% representing more than 30M workers in the last four years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the year 2012, Generation Y will have filled the 18-34 age group. This means that the number of younger adult workers will increase by 10% between 2003 and 2012. This happens at the same time the number of workers aged 35-44 will decrease by 6%.

At the work place, Generation Yers do not want to perform menial tasks in entry-level positions and they are less likely to respond to the traditional command-and-control type of management still popular in much of today’s workforce,” says Jordan Kaplan, an associate managerial science professor at Long Island University-Brooklyn in New York. “They’ve grown up questioning their parents, and now they’re questioning their employers. They don’t know how to shut up, which is great, but that’s aggravating to the 50-year-old manager who says, ‘Do it and do it now.’ ”

The “speak your mind philosophy” makes total sense to Generation Yers, they are not afraid to challenge the status quo so we can expect to see some changes in the way things are being run.

What’s important to them?

  • Good relationships with boss and co-workers
  • Income
  • Opportunity for growth so they can get a better job at another company or start their own
  • Opportunity to show off skills and receiving recognition for a job well done
  • Challenging daily work
  • Flexible schedules for social and personal time
  • A casual dress environment

The attitude of this generation is a direct product of their parents. These kids know that their parents are behind them, and rely on them for personal and financial support.

If you are an employer, co-worker, client, or vendor of a Millennial, do not assume that their values, work ethic and attitudes are the same as the previous generations.

What can you do?

  • Encourage their values: show appreciation and allow them to have input into the decision-making process.
  • Train them: If you want a job well done, tell them how to do it
  • Mentor them: Give feedback, positive and negative; give the reasoning behind your decisions
  • Show them how their work will contribute to the bottom line
  • Provide full disclosure: If they feel you are not truthful, they will not be satisfied
  • Create customized career paths: This will create a sense of control that Gen Y desires and will provide them with a realistic account of their progress and their future with the employer
  • Offer benefits such as flexible work schedules, telecommuting, full tuition reimbursement and online mentoring tools.
  • Provide access to technology: Having the newest and the best technology at their fingertips will attract and retain Generation Y employees.

For more information or to schedule a meeting to better discuss your company needs please Contact us