Millennials are changing the face of a number of things, including the workplace. Their zeal and vision for dynamic work ethics has had a profound influence on how the workplace should operate. Hence, providing an environment where they can be creative and effective can be vital in the growth of any company. Gaidi Faraj, Head of College at African Leadership University, says millennials want the same thing out of work as other generations, but they have been more willing to speak up for themselves. They know their value in the workplace and so they expect to also receive value back from their job, he says. “There are three areas they typically look for value; impact, growth, and appreciation. Millennials want to feel that their job has impact. That might mean impact on the company, on society or impact on a specific target group. They like to see or have evidence of the impact of their work. They also want to feel they are learning or growing on the job. That might come from access to training or from being given responsibilities that require them to stretch themselves to learn new skills,” Faraj explains. He also notes that since millennials want to feel appreciated, a manager or leader that recognises their employees and finds small ways to express appreciation for them, will go a long way towards keeping millennials interested and engaged in their jobs. Prossy Mbabazi, a millennial who works as an administrator, says managers as well as business owners need to understand how this generation is different from others, as this is the only way of knowing how best to work with them. “Most millennials thrive in an environment where there is flexibility. If a manager requires that employees just follow orders, then millennials can’t really be successful in such a setting.” She is of the view that for any company that wants to retain millennials, it should let them freely express their ideas and have a dynamic workspace that allows for growth. “Millennials want to know that they have a chance to grow in their careers and that they are adding value to both the company and to their talent as well.” Laban Bizimungu, a manager, says one thing that can make anyone love and stay committed to their job is provision of benefits, such as access to loans. People have responsibilities and if their work allows them to grow in the corporate world, but also boost their finances, chances are high for them to be committed to that job, Bizimungu explains. He also notes that in today’s world, providing a flexible working schedule is one of the perks that many are looking for. “Millennials are all for a work-life balance. They are committed to their work just like they are with other aspects of their lives and so they value relationships a lot. It’s, therefore, important for companies to ensure they get productivity out of their employees, but also allow workers have a life out of the workplace.”
