For years companies have spent time and money on training their employees on new IT systems – but for millennials, this stuff – and all sorts beside – is second nature. “Millennials love to play around with the latest gadgets and tools, which can be a real advantage for modern businesses that are looking to grow,” says Iain McMath, CEO of Sodexo Engage. But that’s not the only reason those born between 1980 and the mid-90s can make great employees.
They’re better suited to modern ways of working
All of the latest workplace trends – things like remote working, flexible hours and flat management structures – are right up most millennials’ street. Millennials don’t just cope with these new styles of working – they actually prefer them. “Millennials rarely see their role as just a nine to five; they’re looking for a flexible career where they can make a difference,” McMath explains.
They want a company with a vision…
Countless surveys have shown that millennials want to work for ethical, socially conscious businesses that give them a sense of purpose – and SMEs often fit the bill perfectly. These smaller businesses are looking for dedicated staff who are willing to get stuck in and support the company’s values and goals. With both sides getting exactly what they want, it’s not surprising that these two are a match made in heaven.
…And that means they’re open to change
Thanks to their parents encouraging them to speak up, millennials are conditioned to openly question processes in a business if they think they can be improved, found DBI Furniture Solutions in research with SMEs.
“Rather than starting work and blindly following the rules because ‘that’s how things have always been done’, millennial workers are open to change and likely to challenge things when older workers would perhaps be more reserved,” said Nick Pollitt, MD of DBI Furniture Solutions.
SMEs are the perfect fit for millennials
You might think that millennials would rather work for big companies with big perks, but SMEs can often be much more flexible and accommodating. “We recently did some research that found 47% of millennials think SMEs are the ideal business size to work for – more than double the 19% who thought larger companies are a better fit,” explains Sodexo’s McMath.
The research also reveals that millennials expect SMEs to provide better career progression and a friendlier company culture than their larger rivals, which this generation also values.
They crave responsibility and thrive when empowered
One of the most common criticisms aimed at millennials is that they’re self-entitled – possibly down to their parents’ openness to involve them in family decisions as children. Giving them a sense of responsibility from a young age, this kind of parenting has led many young people to feel they should also be able to have similar input in the workplace.
However, this trait can actually be of significant benefit to employers if they approach it in the right way. “Give a millennial employee ownership of a particular area no matter how small, and they’ll feel infinitely more valued, and that their work is having a real impact on the wider business,” suggests DBI’s Pollitt.
A note of warning…
Even though Sodexo’s research found that millennials often prefer to work for smaller businesses, it also reveals they’re unlikely to hang around for more than four years. So, SMEs and millennials might be the perfect fit on paper, but smaller businesses have their work cut out for if they want to keep hold of them. Simple things like flexible working, a good company culture and clear career progression are just a few ways that SMEs can attract and keep hold of millennials.
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