If there’s one thing the current generation of working professionals value above all, it’s the happiness quotient at the workplace. The office environment has evolved with the times; employees no longer rely on mere financial incentives and recognition to meet their job satisfaction needs – they thrive for an environment that makes them feel valued and homely.
If organisations are looking to retain their younger demography of employees, they ought to the things that the latter values to a great extent. Here’s a quick checklist that businesses can keep handy when they’re firming up their retention strategy.
Set up weekly one-on-ones
It goes without saying that issues get worse when they’re not talked about. This is why every business needs to set up the healthiest approach towards dealing with them. A neat way to do that is to have each team manager hold a one-on-one feedback or catch-up session with each of his or her team members. This can be carried out on a weekly basis. The key role of the manager here is to approach his or her employee like a peer and not a boss. This will in turn allow the employee to open up and address the issue he or she is facing.
This way, a team can address a certain issue, figure out the best way to eliminate it, and move on, without bottling anything inside and letting it affect other aspects of work.
Set up a recreational section
As cliché as it sounds, Jack or Jill still have every chance of being dull at work if there’s nothing fun enough for him or her to break off from work just to let off a little steam. Startups with typically young leaders have identified this gap, probably from self-experience, and enhanced their work environment by setting up game zones and dedicated recreational spaces within the office. Remember, providing teammates with a platform to enjoy a sport together can go a long way in building comradery and a healthy rapport amongst them.
Celebrate success together
What’s success without a ‘hip, hip, hurray’ to end it in style! Today’s employees love encouragement and expression of joy, so companies shouldn’t hesitate to celebrate achievements much like a group of friends would! Aspiring candidates value a work culture that knows how to reward them in a modern way, so inculcating young ways of celebration and enjoyment will certainly give businesses brownie points.
Move out from the micromanager model
It’s not surprising to learn that the happiest employees today are the ones that work in a company that doesn’t treat them like school children. Though businesses need to establish basic set processes in terms of attendance and discipline, it’s time to update these factors in such a way that the employees don’t feel like they’re being forced into anything.
Youngsters respect companies and managers who treat them as mature individuals who don’t need to be monitored – this way, each young employee blooms and develops his or her own sense of ownership towards the job. The point here is that it helps if companies can shift their keen eye from login and logout hours to just verifying if an employee is being efficient within his own flexible work timings.
From the above points, it’s pretty clear that in a world where employees are spoilt for choice when it comes to job opportunities, companies have to step the intangible aspect of their workplace – let’s call it the vibe!
