What Millennial Flexographers Think About Their Employers
When deciding whether or not to work for an organization, the most important factors for Millennials are adaptability of a company to change (important or extremely important to 65 percent), and an organization’s values and ethics (important or extremely important to 61 percent). They also care about being on the cutting edge of new industry trends, flexible work schedules (adjustable hours, four-day work weeks) and location. Notably, salary and benefits were selected as important or extremely important by less than half—46 percent.
Four in five Millennials are either neutral toward (46 percent) or dissatisfied with (35 percent) their current work situation. (In contrast, four in five 35+ respondents say they’re satisfied.) When asked what would cause them to voluntarily leave their current employer, Millennials and older employees found common ground, as both indicated the most likely reason would be to make more money/pursue a better financial opportunity.
To What Extent Do You Feel Prepared for a Career in the Package Printing Industry?
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The two groups also shared some similarities in the second through fifth most-chosen responses. According to Millennials, they want to be in a more desirable location, spend time on personal pursuits or interests, pursue work more aligned with their passions, and have more flexibility and a better work/life balance. For the 35-and-over crowd, they want the ability to move forward in their careers, spend more time with family, have more flexibility and a better work/life balance, and pursue work more aligned with their passions.
What would it take to get a Millennial to stay at his or her current job? Would you believe, for more than half of respondents, the answer is more money—in the form a higher salary/wage or better benefits. More interesting or challenging work and finding the right fit/position were both chosen by 30 percent.
So, dangle a few bitcoins in their faces and they’ll up and leave, right? Not exactly: Most Millennials intend to remain at their current employer for several years, however they also expect to be promoted to a new position during this period. Three years from now, three-quarters of Millennials see themselves remaining at their current employer, but promoted to a new position (70 percent) rather than in their current position (3 percent). Notably, only one in five Millennials (and 2 percent of workers ages 35 and over) see themselves moving to a different employer in that time period.
Career advancement is a bigger obstacle for Millennials than for non-Millennials. The group pegs it as the second most-significant professional challenge it will face in the next 12 months. How is this obstacle overcome? Millennials believe positions to which they can move need to open up (28 percent); they also need additional training (28 percent), the opportunity for more responsibility (27 percent) more experience (26 percent) and to find the right fit/position (25 percent).
Keeping up with technological advances—said by over 35-years-old respondents to be the No. 1 challenge—was chosen third.
And the biggest, most significant challenge Millennials feel they are facing? The thing that they worry about most, more than anything else? That would be the workplace age gap between themselves and other generations.