At this point, Millennials make up almost 50% of the workforce. By 2025, Millennials will make up to 75% of all employees. If you still plan on running a successful business then, you need to find a way to make your Millennial workforce happy.

There is a common misconception among employers of the earlier generations that Millennials can be hard to please and that they are unmotivated. However, the truth is a little different.

The generation gap is a common issue and it has been for a long time. So, what is the problem today? It seems that the generation gap is larger due to the increased tempo of our lives.

When everyday life for the younger generation is so drastically different than it is for the older generation, misunderstandings are inevitable. Their values, desires, motivation and life goals are different, so some friction between them is bound to occur.

To make things more complicated, it seems that the parents of the Millennial generation have much more in common with their parents than with their children. To some degree, it can be said that Millennials are misunderstood.

If you want a happy and productive workplace, you should definitely make an effort to understand your growing workforce. For starters, you will need to provide a healthy, green and hygienic workplace. Here are some ways to keep your Millennial workforce happy.

Nurture A Positive Work Environment

This doesn’t mean that you need to have video games and beanbags all around your workplace. However, it does mean that you need to consider the relationships within your workplace and the way your employees feel.

A positive working environment involves respectful and timely communication, acknowledging your employees strengths and where there is room for improvement. It also involves healthy leadership and humane working conditions. Avoid putting unnecessary pressure and stress on your employees as much as possible.

Provide Frequent and Regular Feedback

Providing regular feedback on the work your Millennial employees are doing is, for them, a natural part of a positive work environment. They expect it. Generic, quarterly reviews just won’t do anymore.

This doesn’t imply micro-management. Just a simple little question about their project and a helpful word or two of feedback will be much appreciated. Your employees will understand that you care about what they do and they will reciprocate by being more involved with your company. It’s a win-win situation.

Make a Real Difference

If there is something the younger generations are eager about, it’s making a difference. Get involved in both local and global charities and movements. For example, you can make a real impact by going green. There are so many opportunities to do this type of work. Here are some examples:

  • Use every opportunity to recycle.
  • Replace electronic devices with energy-saving alternatives.
  • Offer incentives for your employees to organise carpooling.
  • Use environmentally friendly ways to clean your car parts if you run an automotive shop.
  • Buy your supplies in bulk.
  • Partner up with sustainable and socially responsible companies, like Alsco Australia.

Another way to make a difference is to get involved in global and local charities. You can organise events and fundraisers yourself. Even raising enough funds to buy equipment for the local children’s playground can be enough, as long as it’s making a positive impact on society.

Embrace Technology

Millennials are digital natives. This means that they don’t understand a world without the internet and mobile devices. A big part of their lives is online, so don’t underestimate new technologies and the importance of these in your employees’ lives.

It is quite easy to judge and to tell nostalgic stories about the old days when people only talked face to face and all business had to be conducted in person. The times have changed and those days are gone. That’s the truth. The world of digital natives is here and learning what’s involved is a matter of business survival.

This doesn’t mean that all your meetings should now be over Skype. It only means that you should not dismiss the input of your Millennial employees when it comes to technology. Take the time to listen to them and implement some of the advice they give you. If anything, it will give you a head start over other companies.

Offer Training and Professional Development Opportunities

There are some big companies that can afford to put some of their employees through their MA studies. You don’t have to go that far. It is enough to offer training and professional development opportunities that can help your employees advance in their careers and even enrich their lives.

Why not conduct a survey among your employees and see what sort of training opportunities they are interested in. Here are some suggestions that you may want to offer:

Leadership Training

Nobody wants to be stuck on an entry position job. People want to advance, and that usually involves being in some sort of management position. Your employees will rarely have experience in leading others and this training will be invaluable to them.

Communication Skills

Everybody knows how to communicate, right? Well, not really. Communication skills improve the workplace environment and make businesses successful and more productive.

Language Classes

Learning a foreign language can be very fun. Almost everybody has a language that they would love to learn. If you offer this as training, it may become one of the favourite training programs among your employees.

First Aid Classes

When you ask your employees to pick training options they would like, not many of them will list Managed First Aid Training. However, if you offer this type of training in a list of possible options, a lot of people will opt for it.

People know that First Aid is something everybody should learn. It could mean the difference between life and death for somebody they know or love. Therefore, as a part of safety improvement in your workplace, this type of training should be included in your schedule.

Alsco Australia has years of experience in providing such training to different companies. We offer Managed First Aid Training which means we don’t just come over and teach your employees CPR. We will adjust our training to match the needs and disaster plan of your company.

We will remind you when your First Aid Certificates are about to expire and we will also train any new staff that you hire. There are many more advantages to using Alsco’s Managed Training.

Call Alsco Australia today and find out how we can help your business grow.