⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

5 Ways to Attract and Retain Millennials Every generation perplexes and discomfits the one that preceded it.

By Phil La Duke

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock.com

I'm too "long in the tooth" to be considered a "millennial" (the much-maligned generation of young professionals entering the workforce today), but I have worked with, supervised, and hired enough of them to have some measure of sympathy, understanding, and respect for these people.

Older workers and employers bemoan the perceived lack of work ethics, contempt for a veteran employee's experience, and the fact that they feel entitled. But mostly older workers don't like that "they're not like us." It's true millennials' upbringing was a lot different than that of the Baby Boomers or the Gen Xers, (for example, Millennials were the first generation raised in daycare centers and with unprecedented access to technology that blew the rest of our minds.) The Baby Boomers are rapidly leaving the work force en masse and soon the Gen Xers are going to join them, so if you want your business to survive you had better make your peace with the younger generation. Here are some ways to attract and retain the best talent.

Related: 5 Ways Millennials Are Like No Generation Before Them

Offer student loan debt relief.

There was a time when all the top companies offered tuition-assistance; this wasn't magnanimity -- many of the Baby Boomers found themselves displaced from jobs that didn't require a degree and were forced to take jobs where their lack of higher education would impede their success and growth. The companies responded by helping out with (in many cases generous) tuition assistance programs. Today's young workers are over-educated yet burdened by crushing student loan debt. A program that provides Student Loan Debt Relief is likely to be popular and will keep the worker at the job as long as the aid and the debt remain.

Let them work remotely.

Old-school supervisors freak out at the thought that their workers might not be under their constant watchful eye -- even though they are in so many meetings that they seldom see their employees anyway.

Related: When It Is -- and Isn't -- Worth Meeting in Person

I personally work from my home in a suburb of Detroit, assigned to an office based in Holland, MI (four hours away), for a company based in London, England. I am leading a team of professionals from Canada and the UK. The fact is, once the new employee is properly oriented to the work demands and expectations there is really little reason to keep them chained to desks. One large healthcare system lets its IT group work from home one day a week and is moving towards a two-day a week system. People like it and tend to get more work done and work longer hours without the having to commute.

Give them gadgets.

Tablets, smartphones, and laptops are practically cybernetic attachments to this generation. What's more, these devices help them stay connected to coworkers and supervisors.

Restore the 40-hour work week.

Younger workers grew up watching both parents work around the clock, miss soccer games and dance recitals, and cancel weekends and vacation for work, only to be forced to take unwanted "furlough" day before seeing salaries cut and finally their job eliminated. Many young people aren't prepared to show loyalty, be worked like an indentured servant, and cast away.

Related: A 40-Hour Work Week . . . Really?

Let them be social.

Young (and now many older workers) see nothing wrong with taking a break from work to post on Facebook, tweet something, or otherwise do something unproductive using the latest social networking app. You can choose to either accept that or loose your talent to a company that will.

Phil La Duke

Iconoclast

Phil La Duke is a speaker and writer. Find his books at amazon.com/author/philladuke. Twitter @philladuke

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Business Ideas

55 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.