Millennials are everywhere. Look behind you; one is probably waiting for you to give them feedback on the report they did 10 minutes ago. There are a lot of stereotypes about Millennials in the workforce: a short attention span, the tendency to procrastinate, and the unending need for praise and recognition. The Millennial Generation (born between 1980 and early 2000s) are about 90 million strong, and a growing part of the global workforce, comprising up to 75% within 10-12 years1. OneSource works with the HR community to help make mobility decisions for members of their workforces. Here are some reasons why this generation is ideal to relocate:
- Millennials are ready to relocate, right now! Many feel that being relocated is just another benefit to their job. 93% are expecting to work internationally at some point in their career and 85% are ready to do so now2. Relocation is a great way to keep your young employees more engaged in the company.
- Millennials know how to keep in contact. Millennials grew up with Facebook, Skype and texting. They are easy to reach with a variety of technology and social media. Because of this, they find it easier to keep in touch with family and friends once they relocate and will be able to easily connect with people, learn about events and things to do in their new location. This minimizes some of the reasons people give for failed assignments or transfers.
- Relocation costs for Millennials will likely be lower. Your new hire right out of college will less often need home sale and purchase assistance, nor will they have a large household goods shipment.
- Millennials take their careers seriously. They want to be able to talk about the goals you have for them, growth within the company and new opportunities. If you establish good communication, they will let you know when problems arise or if they are unhappy with the work environment. This is especially key in making for a successful relocation.
What does this mean for your company? You may want to take a deeper look into your policies on recruiting, retention and relocation. Be ready to embrace the Millennials new needs in order to keep your talent pool open and potential employees excited to work with your company.
Written by Ashley Sult, a millennial who is ready to be relocated to an island in the Caribbean, as long as she can stream Netflix through Wi-Fi and have a non-fat, no-whip caramel Frappuccino every once in a while.
1 According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics
2 According to a survey completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers