This week in the every Tuesday Club I discuss Generation Y and how they differ from previous generations.

So who are Generation Y?  They are people born between 1980 and 1994.  This means they are now between 15 and 29 years of age.

Managers are telling us that in the workforce these people are quite difference to previous generations and as time goes on Generation Y is going to make up an increasing proporation of our workplace.  So we need to learn how to attract them, retain them and get them to perform in our organisation.

Managers are often telling me that they are not loyal, that they don’t have the same work ethic.  They do have a work ethic, and they are loyal, it’s just that they differ to previous generations.

Generation Y:

§  Seek meaningful work opportunities

§  Want small rewards regularly, rather than large rewards annually (“reward me now and then I will work hard”)

§  Want regular feedback and recognitions from leaders for their motivation (instance gratification is their expectation)

§  Want to know what is going on – where the organisation is going and they want to contribute to this

§  Do not like to deal with failure – a blown culture in an organisation or team will drive them away

§  Seek work life balance

§  Are highly mobile and will move employers to find the opportunities they seek

§  Want life study or volunteer work to augment work

§  See social responsibility as a business imperative

§  Seek a balance of autonomy and support

Have you got any Generation Y working for you.  If so, what are you doing to retain them and reward their performance?

If you haven’t taken the opportunity to sign up to the Every Tuesday Club with MBE (Management & Business Education), then do so today by going to www.buseducation.com.