Generation Y: How to keep top talent engaged
In recent years ,many employers have struggled to meet the changing expectations of young employees-Gen Y ,or the Millennials ,as they are often known -who famously expect a high salary and plenty of work -life balance.
Research has shown that a high percentage of employee see flexible working as being extremely important ,and an even higher percentage of employer believe that offering employees a flexible work schedule is one of the best ways to attract and retain the best talent. Many workers feel that the ability to work remotely (free- home) would reduce the stress of their working life .In the most forward-thinking of companies , therefore ,employees are encouraged to redesign their working lives to make them more flexible with the help of state-of-the-art IT and mobile devices.
However,as well as all the usual demands,HR and recruitment directors have noticed some significant changes
in the way young recruits are approaching their careers the days.
Firstly,Generation Y are placing increasing importance on the company as an ethical employer .
Nowadays,there's a lot of talk about sustainability,whereas a decade or two ago ,it wouldn't have been important.
The responsibility of companies to help solve some of the world's social and environmental problems is certainly rising up the young graduate's agenda ; they want to be assured that the company has ethical practices and policiesthat match their own philosophies.
Employers are responding by offering a growing number of opportunities for staff to embark on community work. These include fundraising or volunteering ,career breaks or participation in international fellowship programmes
through which they can spend time working for non-profit organisations in developing countries.
Another deciding factor for Generation Y is the desire to be exposed to a greater range of experiences and responsibilities at an earlier stage in their career. As well as 'ticking the environmental and social box,volunteering and community programmes can help address this issue. In addition ,job rotations and accelerate leadership programmes
can develop young recruits' skills and broaden their horizons by taking them away from their main roles and
exposing them to other areas of the business.
Global experience is also highly valued by Gen Y recruits. Vodafone, for example ,place high-potential individuals in its other operating companies around the world as part of their career development. While there is a cost to this
strategy ,if younger recruits are not given these opportunities, they may take them up anyway . Take the example
of a young employee who wanted to develop his career by working in India was prepared to go on his own if vodafone would not facilitate the move
However ,while the demand recruits place on their employers may present new challenges, Generation Y also bring with them highly valuable new skills,particularly when it comes to the ease with which they use technology .
Global operations require a growing amount of virtual teamwork using webbase communication channel and video
conferencing technology . these are things that young people take for granted ,say Matthew whitbourne, Senior Inventor at IBM and European Manager of the Extreme Blue summer work experience scheme, which allows talented
student to gain valuable experience working on technical research projects.As employers, we have to be more creative about this.