Competing for Millennials? Think Work Environment

Millennials account for 50 percent of the candidates in the job market today. For manufacturing employers to distinguish themselves, an executive from Kimberly-Clark Corp. suggests companies understand millennials’ values and needs.

Job candidates born in the 1980s and 1990s seek a positive social atmosphere at work and a company that is committed to the environment or the social impact of its products and services.

Companies that emphasize their organizational values and policies improve their chances of attracting and retaining millennials, says Sue Dodsworth, a vice president for Kimberly-Clark, which manufactures personal care products.

“Millennials want to take on missions bigger than themselves,” Dodsworth says. “In your recruiting efforts and day-to-day communications, emphasize how your business is making a difference and operating in a socially responsible way.”

Also high on the list for keeping this generation happy at work: opportunities for development.

Dodsworth says it is “critical for manufacturers to let employees know how they’re doing by providing honest feedback in real time and highlighting positive contributions or improvements on key competencies.”

Millennials value workplaces that encourage healthy work/life integration, such as wellness programs or on-site fitness facilities, Dodsworth said. And, they want to feel encouraged to share their ideas. Kimberly-Clark recently launched the “Welcome Original Thinkers” program designed to emphasize that the company values a diversity of ideas.

Source: Industry Week