Managing Millennials in the Workplace

Posted on June 16, 2022

According Pew Research Center’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, millennials are the largest generation in the U.S. labor force. More than one in three (35%) of Americans in the labor force are millennials and that number is set to rise to 75% by 2025.

As with any generation, millennials have their own, unique set of work-based expectations. Here are a few steps we follow at Innovative Advertising to ensure fulfillment in the workplace for our millennial professionals. 

Take a step in the right direction

Because this generation craves meaningful work, step one is to make sure your organization has a modern mission and you’re helping millennials connect their work directly back to that mission. Making those connections helps them engage with and feel invest in the organization’s purpose.

Give back

Studies show millennials tend to have higher turnover rates, likely because they are a socially-driven generation with a strong desire to make meaningful contributions to our world. Just as they personally seek-out ways to give, they expect the organizations they work for to do the same. So, step two is give back. This, of course, can take on many different forms. At Innovative Advertising, we do this by annually adopting a local non-profit and providing our services free of charge. 

Give them a boost

Step three is make time to regularly provide one-on-one feedback. In a survey conducted by Oxford Economics, in partnership with SuccessFactors, results showed millennials desire more feedback from their managers on a monthly basis than other generation.  

Show them the sky is the limit

Step four is invest in their growth. It’s important to outline what their future with your organization could look like to avoid losing them. Give them opportunities to grow through continued education, seminars or training to acquire a new skillset. You must give tangible opportunities for career success to curb their wanderlust.

As today’s businesses seek future growth, it will be important to remember that millennials are critical assets with their savvy, technological expertise, fresh perspectives and desire for an emotional connection with their work and their employers. Leadership has an important task in growing and teaching this generation, so take note.