What Your SMB Needs to Know About Millennials

Millennials are a talented group of workers, and quickly becoming a large portion of the workforce. These young workers have different priorities and expectations than previous generations. In order to attract and maintain millennial employees, you may want to consider how you can adapt to these factors.

Flexibility

Millennials are the generation for which technology is a natural skill. As such, they see how it allows for greater flexibility in the work environment. While deadlines are still important, millennials appreciate flexible time schedules and locations, such as working from home. Rather than being tied to a cubicle from 9-5, an open and creative workspace allows these talented young workers to come together in collaboration, boosting morale and productivity.

Recognition and Growth

While it used to be that “everyone pays their dues” by putting in years of service and promotions occurring at set intervals, millennials know that everyone grows at their own pace. They want their work to help them meet their professional goals, and to be recognized for their efforts. Providing opportunities for challenging work and allowing for more rapid advancement for the best workers helps keep your employees focused and working hard towards their goals.

Mentorship

Millennials value open communication. Rather than a traditional boss/employee relationship, a mentorship can help boost job satisfaction both for the mentor and the employee. This relationship allows for the opportunity for frequent feedback and important learning opportunities. A recent Deloitte survey indicated that those millennials intending to stay with their organization for more than five years are twice as likely to have a mentor (68 percent) than not (32 percent).

This group of young workers are a hard-working, tech-minded and creative generation. By finding ways to acknowledge and reward their talents, you can retain these sought-after employees for your team.