A new generation is now taking the lead in the workforce, and with them, the workplace is undergoing significant changes. Many managers are millennials—adults born between 1981 and 1996—and workplaces must adapt to engage this group effectively, which can be quite challenging.
To help with this, we’ve researched and found several strategies to boost millennial employee engagement. But first, let’s explore what makes millennials different from the rest of the workforce.
What Makes Millennials Unique?
The current workforce is a mix of four generations: Baby Boomers, Gen-X, Millennials (also known as Gen-Y), and Gen-Z.
Millennials stand out because they are the first generation to grow up during a major technological revolution, which has shaped their worldview.
They are more adaptable to change, possess excellent technical skills, and understand the power of social media for communication. This generation is also tasked with dismantling outdated social norms and creating new, more effective approaches.
While statistics on “millennials in the workplace” may not always be favorable, it’s important for other generations to recognize their challenges. They face a world vastly different from what we knew, and they carry cultural expectations from past generations, such as owning a home and securing lifelong employment.
Working with millennials may be difficult at times, but this generation is shaping the future, and they need the right tools to do so. This means training and management approaches must evolve to help them integrate smoothly into the corporate world.
Tips for Managing Millennials
If you’re ready to embrace change, consider the following tips to create a harmonious and understanding work environment:
1. Embrace and Promote Diversity
The days of staying with one job or company for a lifetime are over. Today, young adults seek diversity, often getting bored quickly in repetitive roles. Additionally, many millennials do not prioritize traditional values like buying a home or starting a family, allowing them more freedom.
How to respond as a manager:
To enhance millennial employee engagement, encourage diversity within your team. Hire individuals from various backgrounds and experiences, and consider diversifying your customer portfolio to keep projects fresh and engaging. For example, implementing diversity-friendly policies like on-site childcare or flexible hours can make your business more appealing to young professionals.
2. Discuss Compensation Early
Young adults today often stay in their parents’ homes longer than previous generations. While some may attribute this to comfort or avoiding responsibility, other factors are at play. The housing market is tough, and many millennials prefer renting, especially given the burden of student loans and high living costs.
How to respond as a manager:
To capture a millennial’s interest, address compensation early in the hiring process. Offer a competitive salary, and you’ll likely see increased engagement. Millennials often seek motivation through fair compensation, so understanding when and how to use financial incentives can make a big difference.
3. Offer Flexibility and Focus on Results
How do you feel about remote work?
With advancements in communication technology, managing millennials isn’t just about office presence anymore. Many young adults prefer a 4-day workweek or working from home, as it provides more freedom and comfort.
Millennials believe that remote work allows them to maximize their time and focus on results rather than office etiquette. They value results over the process and appreciate the flexibility of balancing personal and work tasks.
How to respond as a manager:
Relax your rules and prioritize results over processes. Create an environment where employees can work comfortably and consider offering remote work options. However, maintaining productivity in remote teams is crucial, so focus on discipline and time management.
4. Prioritize Work-Life Balance
While higher pay motivates young adults, only 20% of millennials would sacrifice their personal life for more money, according to a white paper by HRPA. Most millennials value their work-life balance and are not willing to compromise it for job security.
How to respond as a manager:
Ensure your company has flexible policies for vacations and personal days. Allow employees to truly disconnect during their time off, without being bothered by work-related calls or tasks.
5. Foster a Startup Culture
Millennials come with big dreams and high demands, but they also have the potential to drive significant change. One reason they may struggle in large corporations is the lack of meaning and purpose in such environments.
Young adults want to feel that their work matters beyond daily tasks, which is why they often prefer startups over large corporations. In a startup, they can experience all aspects of the business and see the impact of their efforts.
How to respond as a manager:
While your company may not be a startup, you can create an environment where everyone feels empowered. Give millennials projects to manage or decision-making power to keep them engaged and satisfied.
6. Provide Growth Opportunities
Millennials are accustomed to continuous learning and development. They understand the need to keep improving their skills to stay relevant in their careers.
How to respond as a manager:
Offer opportunities for growth within your company. Guide employees toward courses and activities that will benefit their careers and personal development. Consider investing in a learning management system that offers easy access to online courses, making learning more manageable and enjoyable.
Conclusion
Whether you like it or not, millennials make up a significant portion of the current workforce. By adapting to their needs, you can tap into a vast talent pool, giving your company a competitive edge and a fresh approach to today’s challenges.
If you want to help your millennial employees develop professionally, consider using the GoSkills LMS. It allows managers and employees to customize learning paths, assign courses, and monitor progress with easy-to-understand reporting and analytics.
