AUGUST 2019HR TECH OUTLOOK9Cut the administrative clutterMillennials grew up in a technology world and they are not used to pushing paper. They want to be free to work efficiently and effectively. According to TriNet data, burdensome administrative tasks, such as expense-reporting, drive many millennials so far as to look for another job. I recommend businesses adopt cloud-based apps, with a mobile component, that allow employees to fully automate their administrative tasks, from anywhere. Take the burden out of benefitsI see a lot of small business owners give employees an allowance and then send them to the open market to purchase healthcare. This works only until an employee's dissatisfaction with their coverage becomes a distraction ­ or, worse, a health issue - that impacts the workplace. Open market healthcare will never compare to the quality and flexibility of a group health plan. Like all employees, millennials want to feel that their employer cares about them. One of the most important and direct ways to do this is via a strong benefits package. Additionally, employees need help navigating the open market. If you aren't large enough to have a robust HR department, a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) can help you offer the same high-level coverage larger companies enjoy, often at more affordable cost. Select the right employee perksOnce you have provided the proper healthcare and retirement benefits, employee perks are great tools for attracting millennial employees. However, they have to be the right fringe benefits: · Flexible office hours- Millennials want to be trusted to do the job they were hired for and not chained to a desk from 9 to 5 every day. In this way, they are changing the face of office culture by making flexible work hours and the ability to work remotely the norm.· Work/life balance- Streamlining processes through cloud-based technology, as already mentioned, can help millennials get their job done more efficiently, so they can have more time for non-work activities. For millennials, having a life outside of work is a requirement. · Professional development- Opportunities to grow in their career are important to this generation. A budget for conferences, continued education and even internal mentors willing to help employees develop in their careers matter and are a huge bonus for millennials. · Wellness-Millennials care about their health and want their employer to care as well. Health club memberships, visiting yoga teachers, chair massages and even an on-site gym are all great benefits for this generation. Welcoming millennials into the foldA key component to creating a happy work environment for all generations of employees is to help more seasoned colleagues acclimate to the new age of workplace culture. Integrate millennial-friendly technology usage with good, old-fashioned, face-to-face conversations by supplementing webinars and Facetime with in-person meetings. Communicating with employees in ways that work for them is also a good idea. While it may be perfectly effective to hold a conversation with a millennial via text message, other employees may prefer an old-fashioned phone call. Be flexible and make it common office practice to allow everyone to work in ways that suit their comfort levels. That being said, take advantage of the knowledge your technology-savvy millennial employees bring to the table by asking them to teach colleagues how to use different apps, software and equipment. Everyone could stand to learn something from the next generation. To really create a workplace conducive to attracting and retaining the next generation of employees, businesses should focus on making changes to their administrative practices and office environment
< Page 8 | Page 10 >