Johanna Cider | Mike McRitchie | Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer

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Are you struggling to hold on to your millennial employees? This is a challenge that many companies have to face. Millennial workers can be tricky to manage because they have

certain hopes and expectations when they come to work. If these standards aren’t met, they may simply move on to the next job opportunity.

If you want to attract and retain millennial workers, you have to prioritise employee engagement. When employee engagement and satisfaction is high, it has a positive impact on the entire company. Here are a few ways to keep your millennial employees engaged on a daily basis:

Promote Wellness

Wellness is an ever-growing trend amongst the millennial generation. Mental and physical health generally takes priority over the material things in their lives. Companies that promote wellness could see higher levels of engagement amongst millennials. A wellness program will keep your employees happy and healthy, resulting in greater focus and drive. Promoting wellness will also show your millennial employees that you care about their physical and mental well-being. This will help to establish greater employee loyalty and retention.

Give Recognition & Feedback

Millennial workers thrive off recognition and feedback. They want to know that their individual contributions are valued within the company. This is what keeps them driven and engaged in their job. When an employee’s hard work goes unnoticed, it affects their confidence and motivation. Managers who don’t provide consistent recognition and feedback run the risk of losing good employees.

Offer Employee Benefits

Providing employee benefits is an effective way to retain loyal employees and keep them engaged at work. When companies offer benefits, such as medical insurance cover, it sends the message that employees will be well-taken care of. Your employees will feel more loyal to your company if they feel valued this way.

Improve Workplace Culture

A good workplace culture makes all the difference to employee engagement. Your millennial employees want to work in a positive, encouraging environment. When the workplace culture is comfortable and enjoyable, everything else will fall into place. Employees will feel happier coming to work and be more engaged on a daily basis.

The most powerful way to improve the workplace culture is to offer more social opportunities for employees. If workplace relationships are strong, they will have a positive impact on the working environment.

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Offer More Flexibility

Managers can improve employee engagement by offering employees the option to adjust their work hours and days in the office. This includes the ability to work from home on selected days. Flexible work schedules are very appealing to millennial employees who seek a greater life balance. It allows them to work when they are most engaged, and still have a healthy personal life. This could eventually help to reduce employee burnout and improve workplace productivity.

Provide more Training Opportunities

Millennial employees want the chance to learn, grow and develop their skills. If your employees don’t feel like they are getting anything out of their job, they won’t feel engaged at work. This could have a negative impact on employee retention. It’s important that managers provide training and mentorship to the employees who want to advance in their career. This will allow your millennial workers to grow with the company and stay on long-term.

When employees feel appreciated, valued and cared about, it has a positive impact on workplace engagement. There are so many different ways to show your employees that you care. Once you send this message loud and clear, you will start to see a positive change within your company.

Author bio:Johanna Cider is a New Zealand-based freelance writer. She believes in the importance of a healthy work-life balance. Check out Johanna’s published work on her personal blog.

Finding Peace In Your Day With full workloads and long hours spent behind a desk, it’s easy to get stressed. However, rushing your way through tasks will decrease the quality of your work. In addition, stress can seriously damage your health.

Start your day right

When you wake up in the morning, begin your day with some stretching exercises or a gentle yoga workout to get your body functioning and in harmony with your mind. Afterwards, spend a few minutes meditating. Next, eat your breakfast – the most important meal of the day. Excellent healthy options include fresh seasonal fruits (eaten whole, with unsweetened yoghurt, in smoothies, or dozens of other creative ways), whole-wheat or seeded toast, eggs and coffee (with no sugar).

If you have a proper breakfast, your energy levels will remain stable through the day until lunchtime, and hunger pangs won’t distract you from your work. Try your best to leave the house calm and centred, so you will feel less stressed during your commute!

Plan and organise

Prioritise your workload and manage your time wisely, using to-do lists if they help you. Calmly think through your day, and revisit the plans you have made – removing anything inessential.

Be realistic about how long each task will take you to complete and allow a little extra time. Try to get your smaller necessary tasks – such as replying emails or making phone calls – completed early in the day. That way, these smaller tasks won’t nag at the back of your mind while you work on more important projects.

Don’t take on too much

Learn how to say no. Excuse yourself from meetings that won’t benefit you or where your presence is not strictly necessary. Decline tasks if you are cannot dedicate the time necessary to complete them effectively. Make sure that everything you do receives your full attention and your best work so you can feel satisfied with jobs well done.

Don't Take On Too Much Work

Don’t get distracted

Put your phone away while working – it’s amazing how much time can suddenly ‘disappear’ checking social media. Make your work area comfortable and peaceful. Place a plant on your desk. Use an ergonomic keyboard and mouse that will put less strain on your wrists and neck.

If possible, have different seating options to work from, or at least get up and stretch or walk around at regular intervals. Taking breaks to move around can help you to stay focused and inspired and get your tasks done better and faster.

Keep moving even when you’re seated

Sitting still behind a desk for hours on end has negative health implications, and also reduces productivity and creativity. Keep yourself focused by doing seated exercises like glute squeezes or leg raises. Other options include saddle seats or rocking footrests.

Lunch

Avoid the canteen and the fast food joints. Prepare yourself a healthy sandwich or cooked meal the night before.

If the weather is good, you could walk to a peaceful spot in a local park, beach, or other natural space and enjoy your lunch out in the fresh air. Surrounding yourself with greenery can re-energise and revitalise you for the afternoon ahead. Mentally revise your plan for the day and ensure everything is going to schedule. Make any necessary adjustments so that by the end of the day you feel satisfied with your progress.

After work

Make time for physical activity during your free time, such gym workouts or a game of squash. If you must take work home with you, ensure you stop working at least a couple of hours before bedtime.

Use the time just before bedtime to organise your things for tomorrow. Lay out your clothes and make your lunch – then read, take a bath, or practise a hobby. Wind down. Go to bed at a reasonable time in a dark, well-ventilated room to ensure a good night’s rest.

Whenever she can, Johanna begins her day with some quiet meditation time outside in nature – which gives her much-needed peace and clarity to get her through the day. Explore more of Johanna’s published work here.