8 Things Millennials Want in the Workplace

Millennials, also called generation Y, are that group of Americans born between 1980 and 2000, and they are unlike any generation that’s come before them. Whether it’s their strong, intuitive grasp of technology or their reluctance to go too long without checking social media, the largest generation ever born in the United States has grown up in a world remarkably different than the one their parents — and employers — grew up in. In a few years, millennials will represent the largest population of workers in the American economy, and they aren’t shy about changing jobs when a work environment doesn’t suit their needs. Your company needs to understand how to attract and retain gen Y if you hope to remain competitive in the coming decade, and these eight provisions will help you do that.

More Teamwork, Less Competition
Millennials don’t thrive in competitive environments the way previous generations have. Whether it’s because their parents and schooling emphasized cooperation more than self-centered pursuits, or because their sports programs usually gave awards to everyone, today’s youngest workers expect an environment that emphasizes cooperation and teamwork. If your business pits employees against one another for clients, commissions or promotions, you’ll be hard pressed to attract and retain millennials.
Structure
Millennials often grew up with doting and attentive parents who provided meaningful daily structure, and gen Y still relishes that structure. Even if you run a company that fosters creativity and innovation, providing a structured work environment will help millennials know where boundaries are while also allowing them to know whether or not they’re measuring up.
Creativity
Most of today’s youngest workers would prefer to work for themselves in a creative way, and while not every millennial is going to pursue that route, being able to engage in a job with passion and creativity will not only help you retain your millennial employees, it will also encourage them to do better work for you and your business. Because millennials are more entrepreneurial in their ideas about themselves and their work lives, providing an environment that gives them the freedom to exercise their creative muscles will keep them happier.

Flexibility
Millennials want and expect a more flexible work environment than any generation before them. In fact, almost half of them would take a pay cut in order to gain more flexibility in a job. From telecommuting options to flex time, gen Y wants more freedom to work the way they want to, and if you hope to hire them and keep them on your payroll, you’ll need to comply.
Making a Difference
Millennials don’t just want to collect a paycheck. They want to make a difference in the world, and because they don’t have a compartmentalized view of work and life, they expect part of the difference they make to occur in their career. You don’t have to run a local, sustainable farm or a homeless shelter to keep your millennial workforce happy. Instead, consider incorporating these practices into your business dealings:
Source your business materials from local, environmentally conscious providers.
Incentivize and encourage volunteering, and participate yourself.
Donate company money to worthy causes.
A Boss Who’s a Mentor
More than a signature on a paycheck, millennials want their boss to be someone who mentors and coaches them into being better people and workers. Gen Y cares very much about personal relationships, and they expect a higher level of interaction with management than the generations who came before them. To that end, spend time with your millennial employees, offering gratitude where they’re excelling and encouragement where they need to grow.
A Listening Environment
Whether it’s because they’re more team-oriented than their older co-workers or because they didn’t grow up in an era that believed children should be seen and not heard, today’s youngest members of the American workforce expect a listening environment. Gone are the days when you could bark out orders and expect them to be followed. Instead, schedule regular meetings with your employees and genuinely listen to their concerns and desires. It will foster a more peaceable work environment and keep your gen Y workers from looking for greener pastures.
Fun
It’s true that work can’t always be fun, but creating a work atmosphere that allows for light-heartedness will go a long way in keeping millennials. Whether you routinely schedule fun outings for your staff or you encourage harmless practical jokes, do something that shows you and your company can register on the Fun Meter.
Attracting and retaining millennials isn’t a job that’s going to go away anytime soon, and that’s actually good news. From providing flexibility and fun to making sure you listen, just follow these eight tips, and you’ll have the talented and hardworking employees you need to tackle the future.