http://recruiterbox.com | Millennials make up an increasingly large portion of the workforce. Savvy employers who take the time to understand the desires of Gen Y will attract and retain the best and brightest from this tech-savvy generation.

1. Attracting and Retaining Millennials: A Guide for Employers
The Millennials, also known as Gen Y, are those born roughly between 1980 and 2000 and
are the most studied generation since the Baby Boomers. In his Time cover story
“Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation,” Joel Stein called members of Gen Y “lazy, entitled,
selfish and shallow.”1 While he also made a case for “why millennials will save us all,” his
portrayal of Gen Y nonetheless caused considerable backlash.2
Stein’s portrayal notwithstanding, the Millennial generation is unique, providing fresh
perspectives and hopeful optimism in the workplace (despite some reportedly oddball
behavior during interviews).3
One thing is certain: Millennials make up a growing part of the workforce–in fact, by 2020
they will make up 50 percent of the global workforce, according to a study by PwC.4 Savvy
employers know that identifying what makes this generation “tick” is the key to attracting
the best and the brightest members of Gen Y. Motivating and retaining employees is always
a managerial priority, but employers will have to step up their games as Millennials
become an increasingly large segment of the workforce. Let’s take a look at the strategies
and recruiting tools employers can use to attract Millennials.
What Do Millennials Want in the Workplace?
The values and priorities of the Millennial generation are different from their Baby Boomer
parents. Work-life balance is important to Gen Y: The mantra “work to live” more aptly
describes them than the “live to work” ambitions embraced by the Boomers. This is not to
imply that Millennials are slackers. Like Boomers, Millennials have high expectations for
themselves and crave challenge in the workplace, but they have different priorities when it
comes to work dominating (or, rather, not dominating) their lives.
Create a Dynamic, Fun Work Environment
Millennials believe that work doesn’t have to be drudgery, that it can actually be fun,
challenging and productive. You can create this environment with perks like group outings,
in-house games and free lunches. Smart employers know that a bit of downtime helps
employees–especially those in creative roles–recharge.
Ditch the Hierarchy
Millennials prefer working in teams rather than individually, and are more comfortable
with flat management structures over corporate hierarchies. This is often difficult for older
generations, who are accustomed to a chain of command, but the inflexibility of such
systems can be a major turn-off for Millennials.
Offer Flexible Schedules
Who decided on a 9 to 5 schedule, anyway? Rigid schedules generally don’t go over well
with Millennials. This group is accustomed to using technology to their advantage, and sees
telecommuting as an attractive option. A desire for flex scheduling is not about laziness. In
fact, Millennials are willing to put in a lot of hours–especially entrepreneurial types and
those working at startups.

2. Companies that are open to embracing scheduling flexibility often find that productivity
increases. One such example is Best Buy, which tested a program that allowed corporate
employees to work virtually anywhere, anytime, as long as the employees completed their
work in a timely manner. The company saw an increase in productivity of 41%, and a
reduction in employee turnover of approximately 90% at the company’s headquarters, as
reported in an article published by Legal Zoom.5
Offer Opportunities for Growth
It almost goes without saying that most employees want to grow in their careers. This is
especially true for Millennials, who see learning and growth as an essential part of any job.
Members of Gen Y will quickly tire of a company that doesn’t nurture their talents and
encourage them to grow and take on new responsibilities—they’ll simply move on. Offer
workshops, classes, conferences and mentorship opportunities that challenge Millennial
employees in their careers.