The Top 7 Things Employees Want From Their Company

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At Founder Shield, we’re a company mainly made up of millennials. People love to knock our generation, but as a group, we’re dominating the business world and starting our own companies at unparalleled rates.

Most millennials are working 9-5 jobs. This number seems to be growing steadily and, at the same time, changing the traditional workplace setup. Whether it’s the typical 9-5 work environment or remote jobs, we’re revolutionizing the underlying ideology of working. This change is not only producing the best results for companies but also inspiring others to think out of the box.

Does this change really work in our favor? Yes, for sure.

Big tech companies are focusing more on the needs of millennials for a better work environment, employee retention, and long-term company growth. For us (and hopefully for you too) this means not only office perks, like food, games and a place to lounge but also unlimited time-off, a well-paid family leave policy and health benefits.

Here is our take on what millennials really need for a good work environment:

1. Ability To Network

We depend largely on networking and communication with our teams. Gone are the days where meetings were held in meeting rooms and only the manager talked. Now, employees gain the most out of one-on-one conversations or group discussions. This brings out the best ideas and most importantly, connects all of us with other team members.

Regular catch-ups with coworkers are proven to increase teamwork efficiency and enable us to get constructive feedback. Managers also realize that constant feedback and good communication have a significant positive impact on work goals.

2. Career Development

Career advancement is a big factor nowadays, in a way that it wasn’t in the past. We, as millennials, think beyond landing a job and look for career development opportunities in our workplaces.

More and more companies are providing programs for employees to improve current skills and develop new ones. These programs can be offered in the form of fully-funded university programs or the opportunity to take online courses. As a result, employees feel more valued and in turn, they feel more motivated to succeed and contribute more to the organization.

It’s a win-win situation.

3. Flexibility

We all desire flexibility in our work. Gone are the days when being confined to cubicles meant being more productive at work. It’s vital for modern employees to be able to work anywhere, whether it is from home or while on vacation.

Flexible work arrangements are more frequently becoming a must for employees to take a job. It’s important for us to ensure there is a virtual workforce in place, as we’ve realized it’s the best way to keep our employees happy and productive. In fact, 70% of global workers opt for remote work at least once a week. Flexibility at work means the ability for all of us to feel less stressed while actually doing the work we were hired to do.

4. Technical Advancements

As millennials, we have a unique ability to use technology to make work more efficient. People love to give us a bad rap for being so dependent on technology, but the truth is, since we grew up with it, we’re able to utilize technology to complete our work faster and more efficiently.

Whether it’s communicating with team members using Slack or conducting virtual meetings using GoToMeeting, we make use of apps and figure them out quicker than most employees of other generations.

5. Focus on Social Causes

Probably the most significant and valuable trait of millennials is our desire to contribute to social and economic causes. In return, we expect companies to focus on these socioeconomic causes in their organizational initiatives.

We realize the weight of this requirement and like to offer our employees a chance to participate in social, environmental, and health programs. As millennials, we are the largest age group contributing to these efforts. Our awareness has a compounding effect on making the world better for everyone.

6. Better Benefits

We all want more from our jobs, plain and simple. Though our paychecks play a significant role in the decision-making process, perks like paid vacations, health benefits and company stock options are just as significant factors.

Because there are a lot of other ways to earn money nowadays, we won’t stay at a company if we feel we’re not compensated well. We’re willing to do more and work hard to justify the benefits we receive.

7. Competitive Environment

Growing both personally and professionally is vital for us. One thing that contributes heavily to our job selection is a competitive work environment. We want to learn and grow, instead of just sitting at our desks clocking in hours. Having healthy competition with colleagues boosts productivity.

Regular team challenges encourage a competitive spirit and help to achieve our work goals. In the insurance industry, understanding what retention means for insurance companies is crucial. This kind of environment pushes us out of “slack mode” and gives us productive motivation.

Wrapping-Up

At the end of the day, we all have great qualities that positively contribute to a company’s growth and culture. Providing employees with an environment conducive to maximizing skills and discovering individual potential helps to retain employees and contributes to the overall success of the company.