Gen Y: A ‘ticking time-bomb for employers ?

Generation Y workers represent the management class of the future, yet they also exhibit a new-found job mobility which, from an employer’s point of view, is a ticking time-bomb of potential cost and disruption to their businesses.

The iOpener Institute in October 2012 gathered and studied questionnaire responses relating to workforce issues from over 18,000 global professionals, to gain insights into how employers can retain their Gen-Y talent. What is clear from this research is that while pay and financial rewards are not unimportant to Gen Y – they’re not prepared to be under-paid for their work – there is no significant correlation between increased levels of pay and greater talent retention.

Instead, the research points to the importance of job satisfaction to Gen Y, showing a strong correlation between fulfilment and the likelihood of quitting. Statistically speaking, job fulfilment (or, rather, lack of it) explains almost 60% of the variance in a Gen Y employee’s desire to leave. Gen Y is simply not prepared to stay in jobs that make them unhappy.

It is also worth noting that, there is an extremely strong alignment between job fulfilment and feeling that your occupation is doing something worthwhile. Managers would therefore do well to help Gen Y by raising awareness of how their organisation’s products, services and culture is worthwhile and has a positive impact the on the world. And providing Gen Y with opportunities to contribute to the community through meaningful work will help retain them in an organisation.

Gen Y also needs to believe in the strategic direction that their employer is pursuing. A correlation was noted between the trust that Gen Y employees have in their leaders’ vision, and their intention to leave the organisation. This highlights the need to regularly and convincingly communicate key points of corporate strategy, along with tangible proof points of how that strategy is being implemented and the contribution it is making to corporate success.

Choosen adapted excerpts by Job Market Monitor from

via HR Magazine – Gen Y workers represent a ‘ticking time-bomb of potential cost and disruption’ to employers.

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