| Effectively Managing Generation Y Employees | | | | 2. Have fun. We keep hearing about Generation |
| Dozens of articles and books have been written | | | | Y’s focus on work-life balance. Well, it’s |
| about the new generation of employees. We know | | | | true. When discussing office incentives and |
| why these twenty-somethings are different from | | | | team-building activities, my staff would always |
| Baby Boomers and what they want out of work and | | | | choose fairly inexpensive, but time-consuming, leisure |
| life, but what do we do with this knowledge. Here | | | | activities. Lunch and games at Dave and |
| are three tips for managing Generation Y employees. | | | | Buster’s, Movie Day at the office, early dismissal |
| | | | | during holidays, etc. Activities that allowed us to mix |
| 1. Use ‘em or lose ‘em. Generation Y | | | | fun with work. Unlike some older workers, myself |
| employees have technology knowledge that is | | | | included, my team had no problem returning to work |
| unsurpassed. In my most recent position, the bulk of | | | | refreshed after two hours of video games and skeet |
| my team was under the age of 26. As a result, I | | | | ball. |
| rarely conducted my own research, purchased office | | | | 3. Communicate clearly and consistently. By now, |
| electronics, or crafted my own Powerpoint | | | | even older baby boomers are used to emails, text |
| presentations. I could, but I had an office full of | | | | messaging, etc. Many of us, however, are still |
| individuals who could do it better and faster. In fact, | | | | content with the weekly, or heavy-forbid, monthly |
| I would utilize them to investigate intern applications. | | | | staff meeting as a way to disseminate information. |
| They would uncover more candidate information in | | | | Gen Ys are used to a steady stream of real-time |
| one hour via MySpace, Facebook, and Intranet sites | | | | information. What am I doing, why am I doing it, |
| than I could in any interview or reference check. | | | | and how am I progressing? Not the hand-holding or |
| More importantly, these tasks fit into their strengths | | | | baby sitting that some accuse Generation Y of |
| and lifestyle. So suspend your ego and milk that | | | | needing, but sincere and immediate talk about their |
| talent. | | | | work, life, and expectations. |