1 .
Close
relationship with supervisors and constant feedback:
During
their childhoods, millennials were encouraged to have close relationships with
their parents and teachers. They expect the same kind of relationships in a
work environment.“Millennials want close relationships with their supervisors,
and expect frequent feedback. They dislike ambiguity and expect transparency
and fairness in all their dealings with work organisations,” notes the report.
2.
Work/life balance: Unlike their parents of the boomer generation, millennials
are not workaholics. They want a clear work/life balance and expect their
employers to help them achieve this.“They view work as just one aspect of life,
and place more value on the sanctity of free time,” says the report.
3.
Immediate gratification: The young people surveyed by Ericsson are not
necessarily excited by the idea of slowly climbing up the corporate ladder.
“They are less willing to pay dues, and unlikely to pursue the delayed
gratification of a gradual promotion track.”
4.
Tech-savvy: Millennials have a much closer relationship with technology than
other generations. The report explains that “due to the rapid changes in
technology over the last 25 years, millennials have become highly adaptable and
naturally fast-paced. In their eyes, change is a constant…” These young
employees often get frustrated with companies that use outdated technology.
5.
Always connected: Young professionals are in constant contact with their
friends and family through social media networks and instant messaging
platforms. They continue with this communication during work hours, and view it
as a right rather than a benefit.Unfortunately for employers, this is not a
two-way street. Millennials are generally not willing to let work interrupt
their private lives, especially during weekends.
6.
Using personal networks to solve work-related issues: Millennials reach out to
their friends and contacts to get help with work-related issues. Whereas
previous generations would have limited such questions to their colleagues,
millennials utilise their personal networks to address a variety of tasks.
7.
Flexible work hours: Today’s young professionals desire flexible working hours
(with no overtime) and the option to work from home on certain days.
8.
Want to be treated as equals: “The sense of equality that millennials learned
from their friendships with parents and teachers growing up translates directly
to the workplace. [They] expect everyone to be equal, and for there to be
transparency, fairness – and no hierarchy,” says the report.So in light of the
above, what is the ideal company for today’s 20-somethings? “In the eyes of a
millennial, an ideal company should allow them to sustain their personal lives
at work. It should also offer them the opportunity to work in teams, preferably
with others of their own age. There should be transparency, clear directions
and constant feedback from managers and supervisors, with whom millennials
expect to have a close relationship. In order to perform optimally, having the
latest technology is a must, especially when it comes to communication.”
