Retention and Flexibility are Key:

Retention in a Multi-Generational workplace is a very real and current issue. The need to manage different values and motivations is upon us. This is the 4th blog post in the series of Collaborating in a Multi-Generational Workplace with ideas to inform and inspire retention throughout your entire team.

There are many reasons for decreased engagement in this post-pandemic era. Flexibility and financial wellness are high on the priority list of many working Canadians. After the Treasury Board announced a tightening of the hybrid work policy for remote workers, an estimated 60% of Canadian Federal Public Service union members said they’d prefer to stay home rather than return to the workplace. [i]

Flextime and Remote Options

The current business era is no longer beholden to regular in-office hours, assigned offices or desks, or set lunchroom breaks.  Flexibility is a high need for both employers and employees.

For example, the four-day workweek is becoming popular.  A six-month pilot program in Iceland had 3,300 workers across 70 companies work 80% of their usual week in exchange for promising to maintain 100% of their productivity.[ii]

Choose Flexibility Over Standard Practices

People don’t want to be told what to do without a solid reasonable explanation. Terms such as ‘standard practices’ or ‘the way it is around here’ might cause younger generations to smirk at what they could perceive as old, outdated, or less-than-effective ways of doing things in current times.

Balance flexibility and good communication to show the larger picture of ‘why’ to help people understand the entirety of systems and processes to get their buy-in and stay open to feedback for possible improvement to improve outdated options. Help younger generations understand the realities and challenges of the business.

Support the Hierarchy, but Mix and Mingle

Being flexible must be balanced with having structure. Where a chain of command is concerned, conflict brews when the hierarchy of an organization is violated. However, that does not mean that regular communication with senior leaders is out of reach for those who do not directly report to them. On the contrary, mixing senior leaders with front-line workers, especially those in the younger generations, is inspiring, inclusive, and informative for all involved.

Mix and assign different generations to joint projects where collaboration and cooperation can lead to team success.  Create a mentorship system to help younger learn from seasoned, and vice-versa.  For example, a younger tech-savvy person could lead a training session on new or existing technology.

Hold team-building events outside of work hours (in-person, virtually or hybrid) to satisfy social opportunities to get to know each other better.

Mitigate Financial Stress

Financial stress is the leading complaint among employees of all generations, but particularly among Generation Z workers. Eighty-one percent of U.S. Gen Z adults consider money their biggest stress factor. With inflation surpassing 8% and average merit increases wedged between 2-3%, these employees seek support for practical needs like the rising cost of living. Showing people the path forward, where their efforts and development will earn them promotions and higher income, will light their path. Don’t expect them to come to you for this information. Be proactive with a retention strategy to engage them.

In case you missed any of them, here are the other posts related to this series:

• Collaborating In A Multi-Generational World
• Collaborating In A Multi-Generational World (Part II)
• Managing The Multi-Generations

Thank you for your interest in this series of Leadership Tips and your continued readership throughout the year. As inclusion is such a relevant topic, meeting planners and HR Managers are booking this keynote, Collaborating in a Multi-Generational World, to help audiences sustain a more peaceful, profitable and productive workplace for everyone.

Penny

Problem with Collaborating in a Multi-Generational Workplace?

Solution:  The Sandbox System™

• Conflict Resolution
• Training
• Planning
• Accountability

If your team could use some collaboration inspiration to create a happy and productive multi-generational workplace, I invite you to schedule a Complementary Discovery Call, and we can have a chat about how to get everyone working together peacefully!

[i] https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-canadian-government-work-1.6543860

[ii] https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/01/business/4-day-work-week-uk-trial/index.html

[iii] https://www.bscai.org/Contractor-Connections-Hub/BSCAI-News/managing-five-generations-in-the-workplace