The culture and makeup of the US workforce is rapidly experiencing change as boomers start to retire, while millennials become the new majority. Compared to baby boomers, the newer generation comes with a completely different mindset and set of values when it comes to working. Companies have to adjust their work policies, and how they market themselves if they want to attract the top talents among the younger generation. Here are 4 ways millennials are changing the workplace.

1. Greater Diversity

 Millennials are far more ethnically diverse than any previous generation in America’s history. According to data from the United States Census Bureau, one in four millennials spoke a language other than English at home, and nearly 44% identified themselves as non-white. This greater diversity in the workforce will bring with it its own opportunities and challenges. Companies will have to make their workplace more inclusive and accepting.

2. Push for Transparency 

Millennials are pushing for greater transparency at the workplace, persuading companies to be more open about their policies and more inclusive of their employees in management decisions. More traditional top-down management techniques with rigid boundaries and limited communication are no longer as effective. Companies are being made to adopt more candid, open-ended, and trust-based work environments to retain their younger employees. 

3. Rise of Remote Workplace Culture

Millennials place a high priority on flexibility and work-life balance. The option of remote working allows them to achieve both these aims. To attract younger talents, more and more companies are ditching the standard 9 to 5 and moving towards a more flexible remote work policy. Big names such as Amazon, Dell, JP Morgan Chase, and GitHub have already embraced this new trend.

4. Greater Mental Health Awareness at Work

Millennials are bringing mental health awareness to the spotlight at the workplace. They are much more open about discussing the subject and are more likely to leave a company if they see work culture to be detrimental to their mental health. According to a survey conducted by the non-profit organization, Mind Share Partners, nearly half of millennials said they quit their jobs due to mental health reasons. For comparison, the figure was less than 10% in the case of baby boomers. For greater employee retention and productivity, companies would have to place the issue of mental health high on their agenda when shaping their work policies and culture.

The Bottom Line

Already, millennials are gearing up to be the largest generational workforce in the United States, and as they take on increasingly greater leadership and management roles, we can expect dramatic changes to our work environment, or even how we define work itself.

Work with Us

With a heavy emphasis on empathy and on fostering long term relationships with our clients and candidates, APN Consulting is a millennial-friendly staffing agency that can connect you with companies that are right for you. For any queries, contact us directly or by emailing us at contactus@apnconsultinginc.com.