Comments on: Trying to keep young employees from quitting? It's not about money.

By: Modite - Look beyond millennial-washing benefits for happiness at work

Modite - Look beyond millennial-washing benefits for happiness at work — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:49:30 +0000

[…] I left, the company has since experienced a similar turnover. Yes, millennials are known to be job-hoppers, but only because we are searching for the right position. Companies with the lowest turnover are […]

By: Jeremy Salter

Jeremy Salter — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 17:42:25 +0000

I'm playing catch up on reading some blogs, so someone may have already said this, but I definitely feel like Ryan's article about 'Traveling the World on Your Company’s Dime' over at Employee Evolution is a good one regarding a subject like this. He talks about using travel (somewhat vacation like, but in addition to your normal vacation time) as an incentive. The company will then partially fund the travel expenses and urge the involvement of volunteer work wherever the destination is. This could be very beneficial on many different levels and it's appeal would be high to most of us millennials! The article can be found here:

http://www.employeeevolution.com/archives/2007/06/24/traveling-the-world-on-your-companys-dime/

By: Can'tStopLaughing

Can'tStopLaughing — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:47:49 +0000

hmmmm…. I think what makes me stay is the need for me at work. I handle so many things at work that if one day I'm not there, it can really put things in disarray. However, what would make me not want to stay is if I'm not appreciated for the things I do at work. If I'm being treated like everything I do is not enough, then I won't be happy and will probably plan an escape.

By: Fran

Fran — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:08:28 +0000

I agree that unrelated tasks in an opportunity for us to develop new skills. But what if the task given to us is meant for a different position with a higher pay than what we get? I think it's only necessary to complain.

By: Jillian

Jillian — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:36:56 +0000

For me, at 25, it's a matter of both mentorship and trust. I am currently in a position that is not in my desired career but I love my job because my boss truly, genuinely trusts me and gives me all sorts of opportunities to work independently. And she gives great feedback. It doesn't matter that I'm making an extremely small amount of money (well, for now), it matters that I'm in a position of responsibility - and the thing is, no one hires you based on how much you made at your last job, but they do hire you based on what you accomplished.

By: Alexis

Alexis — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:27:15 +0000

This is a great area of discussion. I am 26 years old and have been a serial job hopper since graduating from college when I was 23. I have had three different jobs over those three years but I am still looking for what I want to keep me in a position. Like most everyone else who has posted here I am looking for respect and challenging work. I am looking for a solid mentor to provide good feedback and criticism and clear communication between all parties. I need a laid back, team oriented environment that is also supportive of new training and educational opportunities.
I have…so far not found any of the above mentioned things in the three jobs I have held which I know have helped lead me to hop to the next job. These jobs have also all had the word secretary/assistant in them, which is fine, but when I am not given the opportunity to do more than secretarial work regularly I get bored, frustrated and restless. I know I have a lot to offer but it seems that no matter how I try no one wants to take me seriously. The position I am in now, doesn’t offer anything that tempts me to stay, so why will I? Right now I am just between a rock and a hard place because my resume is growing longer every time and I have not stayed at a job in the last three years for more than a year. I have wondered if there are other people who get frustrated with the limitations of the corporate world, and now I don’t feel so alone. I just wish most employers would listen.

By: Balanced Life Spa

Balanced Life Spa — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:03:12 +0000

Hi Penelope, I enjoy your blog.

Regarding your statement on employees not sticking around long enough to climb the corporate ladder: Part of the problem for lawyers, specifically, is once a law firm figures out that you are not going to climb their corporate ladder, they often want you out - right then. In my practice, I heard more than a few partners say, "If you are here, you should want to become an equity partner. If you don't plan to become an equity partner, make sure I don't find out about it."

Law firms have always been behind the corporate world. Too frequently, they are unwilling to assist their associates in personal and professional development, losing sight of the fact that a Gen X or Gen Y associate who leaves will be more likely to go out and praise the firm if they had valuable growth opportunities, rather than say nothing about the firm or that experience, because they have nothing nice to say. Firms often have a "sink or swim" mentality on everything, and partners often do not care whether associates develop professionally, as long as they keep billing and keep up with the work at hand.

I think your points (today and generally) are a great start for firms and corporations who are trying to keep younger employees, but law firms are way behind on accepting the fact that forward thinking management (1) would contribute to greater retention of younger workers, and (2) are valuable regardless of whether they result in greater retention.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 03:54:24 +0000

I often hear some of my friends complain about their jobs. If the task given to you is by any means not related to your position, who wouldn't?

* * * * *

I see your point. But if the task given to you is an opportunity to grow, then it's a time to celebrate, not complain. We don't need to limit our skill development by how someone else wrote our job description.

Penelope

By: Trevor Stafford

Trevor Stafford — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 13:25:55 +0000

This is an important post, particularly for Canadian readers. Our 'baby boom' was even more pronounced than yours, and now we're seeing young 20-something 'echo' workers entering the workforce in droves. Needless to say, the older generation is lamenting the 'laziness' and 'disregard for the corporate facts of life' of these whelps - and forgetting that they were tagged with the same labels in the 60s as they 'tuned in, turned on, and dropped out'.

You've hit the nail on the head here. Work has changed. Job security has changed. Young people want to be challenged and respected. Some are pampered Hiltons. Most are not. The truth is that we NEED to mentor these young people. They'll be running the country soon.

You had me nodding along with you Penelope. Strong post.

* * * * *

Thank you for this comment, Trevor. Always interesting to hear the Canadian take on things…

Penelope

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 02:39:31 +0000

Leslie M-B,

If you are able to complete 40 hrs. worth of work in 25 hrs., great!!! You're a bargain to the company! They'll then give you more work to do for the remaining 15 hours, maybe more. They're not going to pay you for 40 hrs if you complete your work in less time than that (would you?). Usually salaried workers do 60+ hrs worth of work, but only get paid for 40. Rarely does it work in the reverse, as you have suggested.

As far as you not getting paid as much as the sales folks, that's the way it is. It's not a question of fairness. If you want to get paid more, then migrate to jobs that pay more.