Most companies know that the key to productivity and a successful overall bottom line is employee engagement. Traditional employee engagement has focused on creating a sense of stability, offering a path to career advancement, and investing in learning and development opportunities along the way. And though these are all still important components in today’s workforce, the emergence of the Millennials into the workplace necessitates a new approach for engagement.
If your company isn’t actively recruiting and engaging with these newcomers to the workforce, rest assured you will be. Gallop polls show that around one million Millennials are currently entering the workforce each year, and, by 2025, 75% of the workforce will be made up of this group.
So, what is the key to engaging this younger group and ensuring their productivity at work? Research shows that having a corporate culture that promotes a shared vision, directed mission, and clear goals is a good starting point.
But, to truly engage, recognizing and appreciating the importance of flexibility in one’s work-life balance may be the secret for success. For example, the option for remote or work-from-home days for some employees can secure qualified talent that you may not have been able to attract with the traditional 9-5 in-office structure. Take new mom Merissa, a rockstar account executive with Impact Workforce Solutions. Working from home a few days a week provides the flexibility she needs to still feel connected to family, while getting the job done. According to Merissa, “getting to work and have independence but still be around to watch the little ones grow up makes me want to work so much harder!”
Don’t miss out on solid talent by being resistant to change; engage with flexibility and watch your bottom line grow.