Quality of LifeHack: Engaging Millennials
An astonishing 50 percent of the workforce will be composed of millennials by the year 2020, according to a PWC report. It may be hard to categorize all people who were born between 1980 and 2000 (millennials) as one type of person because people can vary significantly in mentality and habits. However, research and first-hand experience shows ways to improve engagement among millennials. Below are three things to keep in mind for engaging millennials.
- Recognition and Appreciation:
A TinyPulse study shows that 79 percent of employees feel undervalued due to a lack of appreciation or recognition in the workplace. As both managers and coworkers, give positive feedback often and make it specific to the person’s work. Be sure to say thank you for even the little things that your coworker does for you. According to a recent Gallup poll, “only 19% of millennials say they receive routine feedback.” This concerning fact is compounded when the report goes on to say, “An even smaller percentage of millennials (17%) say the feedback they do receive is meaningful.” As long as you can articulate both positive and negative feedback regularly, you should be able to keep millennials more engaged.
- Flexibility:
The number of people who telework at least once a week has increased substantially in the last few years. A recent report by Global Workplace Analytics says that 50 percent of the workforce holds a job that allows for teleworking, which is up 103 percent since 2005. Many company leaders are realizing that if the work is getting done on time, it does not matter where or how it gets done. Some employees find that they can better accomplish tasks at home or at their local coffee shop, away from regular office distractions. If possible, give your employees a choice, which will allow them to be more engaged and passionate about their work.
- Entertainment!
Last but not least, make the work culture and environment fun for everyone. Employees want to feel as though they belong to a community says Lauren Drell, a millennial writer. Creating a culture of inclusivity and fun can go a long way towards keeping your employees happy and engaged. Investing in your team by bringing in an ice cream truck, spending a few minutes to play a game on a Friday, or enjoying an outing to the local ballpark can help your employees feel better connected to each other. Tony Hsieh, Zappos CEO, once said, “If we get the culture right, then great service and building a long-term, enduring brand or business will just be a natural byproduct.” Dedicating some time and effort into the happiness of your employees can really pay off.
How else do you keep your millennial employees engaged?
