Opinion
Generation why?
60 per cent of millennials quit
their job within the first two
years of employment – so how
do businesses attract, retain
and keep the next generation
of talent engaged and happy?
Hazel Slimmon, HR director,
Diversified Communications,
weighs in
T
here’s no doubt that millennials,
also known as Generation Y,
are one of the most talked about
and studied generations of our time.
Millennials are those born between 1981
and 1996, and they’ve been described
(not by me, I hasten to add) as entitled,
lazy, selfish and disengaged individuals,
who depend on their parents to do
everything for them.
However, if this is true, then why are
companies working so hard to fully
understand this generation and what
makes them tick?
Millennials have grown up in a
world defined by technology, where
information is instantly available and
the world around them is changing and
evolving rapidly, meaning they have a
different set of values and expectations
to the generations before them. As a
result, our current ways of working
don’t always suit millennials.
So, let’s explore three key areas that
are important to this generation:
to stay with a company.
The best thing about building a great
culture is it doesn’t have to cost a lot of
money. If you’re genuinely committed
to investing in the happiness and well-
being of your staff a positive company
culture will grow and flourish naturally.
Work-life balance matters
It is reported that millennials strive
for a healthy work-life balance. It is
important to them to work where
they want, how they want and when
they want, and of course advantages
in technology support them in this
quest. It is known that flexible working
is regarded by millennials as a higher
priority than other benefits including
benefits and even pay.
The reason why, I believe, that
millennials find it harder to achieve
work-life balance than their
predecessors is they are more likely to
have a spouse or partner who also works
and is on the same journey. For most,
they are entering a stage of their lives
when they are getting married, buying
homes and having children at the same
time whilst wanting progress their
careers.
Purpose
Having a purpose at work ranks high
on a millennial’s agenda. This can
come in many forms such as having
a voice, giving back to a community,
contributing to a project or being taken
seriously by those around them.
Finding meaning at work doesn’t have
to mean single-handedly saving the
world, solving a crisis or finding a cure
– it’s simply about purpose and passion,
and having a clearly defined objective in
your role.
Sharna Waid, PR manager for
Diversified Communications, says:
“Millennials are wired to want a sense
of purpose in life because a healthy
sense of purpose puts our life events
into perspective, it helps us to refocus
on the things that are meaningful, and
so, makes us move ahead and enjoy life.
Diversified offers me a sense of purpose
because we have a strong company
culture here that encourages us to be
better and supports us when we need it
most.”
The truth is millennials are an
important part of modern-day business:
with 86 million in the workplace, they
represent 40 per cent of the working
population. Whether you like it or not,
they are the next generation of leaders
who will determine a new way of
working.
Company culture
Company culture is an integral part
of modern-day working. It touches
every aspect of a company, from
recruiting talent to improving employee
engagement and satisfaction. It’s
without a doubt the backbone of any
happy organisation.
Without a healthy company culture,
millennials will struggle to find value in
their work, their purpose, and a reason
April — 43