Young recruits already have one foot out the door
September 22, 2008 by Sam NarisiPosted in: Attracting talent, Entry level recruiting, In This Week's E-Newsletter, Latest News & Views
Most HR pros know retaining employees in their 20s is a difficult task. But new research shows just how tough it is.
Roughly 70% of recent college graduates quit their first job within two years, according to a survey by Experience, Inc.
Why? Beyond the profitability of job hopping, one reason may be that many of them didn’t want those jobs in the first place — 43% said they’re not in the career they expected or wanted to be in, either because they didn’t get a job they wanted, or they jumped on the first opportunity that presented itself.
Furthermore, 60% are currently looking for a new job or career.
All is not lost, though — despite the lack of loyalty, 57% reported they were happy in their current positions.
What can companies do to increase Generation Y’s loyalty? Here’s some advice from Experience:
- Set expectations — Giving an accurate picture of the job while you’re recruiting will help filter out people who will be unhappy.
- Offer lifestyle benefits — Flexibility is key for keeping young workers satisfied.
- Get social — Younger employees tend to stick around more often when they have good relationships with their peers. Holding events that bring them together whenever possible is one way to boost retention.
Tags: Experience Inc., Generation Y, Retention
September 26th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I’m a (very late) baby-boomer, & I’m tired of hearing about how employers these days need to focus on adjusting their policies to please 20-somethings. If a recent college grad thinks he/she should be able to come in late &/or web-surf, text message, talk on a personal cell phone, etc., on company time, &/or be frequently entertained by his/her employer (happy hour, etc.), he/she needs a reality check. In our current economy, there is an abundance of 30, 40, 50 & 60-somethings looking for jobs & who are fully willing to arrive on time and WORK. I know 20-somethings who’ve come from real working class families and are truly productive members of society. You can’t teach 20-somethings about work ethic when you don’t have work ethic expectations for them. The more employers stick with tried & true company policies, the more 20-somethings will adjust & fall in line. Otherwise, this country will have created an entire generation of pampered whiners, and face a serious decrease in worker productivity nationwide. Our dear departed Greatest Generation members must be rolling in their graves.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:35 am
M.E., I literally stood up and appluaded after reading that.
I’ll admit, some companies have policies/procedures in place “just because” and many of those should be updated, but as far as being on time and actually working – that’s just not too much to ask from anyone. Regardless of age.
Another thing I’ve noticed about 20 and 30-somethings is that they prefer electronic communication for everything until conflict arises. Then they wonder why they are unprepared for face to face conflict resolution.
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I am amazed how many times a day/week I hear the younger generation say they don’t have time to do their job! If they don’t have time to do what they were hired to do then what are they spending their time doing? Cell phones, water cooler conversations, and Facebook seem to be taking over any type of serious productivity. I agree w/ M.E., you can NOT teach work ethic, but we must model it for them so the younger generation can see a comparison and realize that after a full day of work you can go home and enjoy time w/ your family. I have had to tell too many employees lately that when we interviewed them they were looking for work and now that they have been hired they try everything possible to get out of work.
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
M.E. – I couldn’t have said it better myself. Not all 20 & 30 somethings are like those written about in the numerous articles, but there are many who really need to grow up and realize that they need to take responsibility for their lives and actions.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Get social? Give me a break. (not to be taken literally please) Our company had a problem with the 20 & 30 somethings being hired to work, which they saw as incidental, and spending most of their time in each other’s office being social. The cliques would to to lunch together and come back late.
Reporting late to work was a common occurance. It has taken a year to change the mindset of this group. We have progressive discipline and it eventually came down to suspension without pay for several before we got their attention. The message is loud and clear. We don’t make rules to suit each age group. The rules are for all and for the benefit of the company as we provide employment which they should priviledged to have.