9 Ideas to Make Your Workplace More Millennial-Friendly
As 2019 begins, there are close to 80 million millennials in the United States. They are one of the most diverse generations in the population, and they make up approximately three out of every four workers in the workforce. For this reason, it’s important to understand the needs and preferences of these workers to ensure your chance of business success. To upgrade your workplace design to be more millennial-friendly, contemplate the following tips.
Consider the Location
Whether you are looking to relocate or are setting up a new business, consider the location. Many millennials prefer to work in the same neighborhood where they work so they have a short commute. If possible, choose a building close to the center of town or near the newest high-rise apartment complex in order to attract workers who live nearby. Look for a historic open factory building or upgrade an existing office.
Open Up Your Office Space
For millennials, community and collaboration matter, and one way to foster this type of atmosphere is with an open office concept. Group teams together or even offer shared desks within the same department. Be sure to provide private meeting rooms for phone calls, focused work, and personal downtime. It’s also a good idea to create community spaces where employees can relax in bean bag chairs or on couches, play video games, and enjoy each other’s company in a comfortable setting away from their usual work areas. An open office plan can modernize your workspace and make the office experience more relaxed, collaborative and productive.
Choose Adaptable Furniture
Health-conscious millennials prefer to stay active rather than sit in a cubicle all day. Purchase standing or convertible desks that allow workers to move around throughout the course of the day. Standing desks help keep workers healthier, improve moods, increase productivity and can reduce chronic pain in those with back problems. The newest smart desk models can even alert workers when they need to change position and track workplace habits over time.
Upgrade Your Company Breakroom
Often, the way to the millennial heart is through the stomach. If money permits, consider turning a lifeless breakroom into a trendy café or coffee bar. At the very least, provide healthy snacks and vending items like oatmeal, energy bars, water, juice, and fresh fruits. By keeping healthy food available, you’ll reduce the need for workers to leave during the day and help increase their job satisfaction.
Create a Flexible Work Environment
Millennials value the ability to blend their personal lives with their work, so it’s important to create a flexible office environment that gives them the opportunity to control when and where they work and when they play. Consider letting employees choose the hours they work. For many positions, as long as the job gets done, it shouldn’t matter if they prefer to come in later in the day or if they like to arrive before others in the office. Making hours more flexible also can help decrease absenteeism.
Remote work is another element of the modern workplace that fits millennials’ need for flexibility. Technology has made it easy for employees, supervisors, collaborators, teams, and even clients to stay connected no matter where workers find themselves physically. Even occasional opportunities to work remotely are appreciated by workers and cut down on commute times and dissatisfaction.
Encourage Community Involvement
More than half of the millennials in the workforce say they have ruled out working for a specific company due to their values or standard of conduct. Instead, they prefer to work for companies that give back to the communities that help make them successful. Encourage community involvement among your employees. Choose a charity and make it a point to volunteer as a group, like through a community walk or food drive. Hold charity events, allow workers to donate time to charity during work hours, or donate food or money regularly to a local cause.
Focus on Fitness
Millennials tend to shop for jobs that support their personal needs and goals, and this includes fitness at work. Employee wellness programs help serve as an attractive and competitive perk of working for your company, helping to decrease workplace stress and reduce related injuries. If you can’t find the space for an office gym, consider creating a wellness program complete with perks. Let employees track and report results. Use incentives like time off or bonuses to encourage participation, and partner with or host team-building events at a local gym. You also can hold support meetings or provide employees with other resources they need to make healthier life choices.
Switch to a Smart Office
Millennials are experts when it comes to technology. Devices with virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri make it possible to automate your office systems, streamline appointments and scheduling, and collaborate with others faster. Interactive whiteboards also come in handy by allowing workers to share ideas, files, drawings, and other information from almost anywhere with the click of a computer button. Also, by turning your office into a smart office, you can save money on utilities and monitor building access from anywhere.
Change the Way You Communicate
Studies have famously shown that most millennials hate talking on the phone. For this reason, smartphones aren’t typically used to make phone calls. Millennials prefer texting and email over other forms of communication. Consider communicating through company texts or communication apps to send out important notifications. Make your communication friendlier and more casual by inserting emojis. Embrace social media to engage customers and employees online. These techniques, along with relaxed dress codes, more open atmospheres, and casual messages, you’ll make millennials feel more at home.
Because millennials make up the majority of the current workforce — and likely will for some time to come — it’s important to make changes to integrate these workers into your business. By opening up your space, integrating technology, and allowing flexibility, you can attract top talent that will help your business come out on top.
We want to thank Laura Gayle, Creator of the Business Woman Guide, for the wonderful article she wrote. Please check out her website for more information on how to become an entrepreneur and grow your business.