 A message from Commissioner Albert Bryan Jr.
I became aware that the emergence of the internet generation in the workplace has escalated and employers are being bombarded with individuals that are accustomed to rapid results. If you are still in doubt, contemplate on any question and the time it takes you to get the answer on Google. This will be the average time span and unfortunately attention span of your internet generation employees. They will want their day to flow at that speed and yes, their paycheck increments as well. How do we keep them engaged in the workplace?
Employers have to look at different management styles and strategies to get these workers to "be all they can be". Some employers will say their employees are lazy or unmotivated but, the truth is they have spent a lifetime getting quick results and the hum drum of the typical workplace will be excruciatingly painful! They will not be willing to wait years for retirements and promotions to find their way in life and the short term plan will rule the day.
One thing that is evident of these workers is they value their free time and will be less willing to put in those long days and overtime hours at the office. I think in this facet lies our opportunity. Like the internet, we have to start looking at the office as a replication of the internet. The net is virtual and so our offices will need to follow suit. This means the workplace will be guided by timelines and not time clocks.
The office will be project driven and everyone will therefore be assigned tasks and set about completing them. Teams will communicate by webcam and voice over technology. This way, you can be at the beach and at you’re 10 am meeting at the same time. You can hit the gym at 8 am and complete that report at 12 midnight when you work best. This is the reality of the 21st Century workforce and employers had better start adjusting or they will fail.
We as employers have to figure out ways to constantly capitalize on the new workforce’s creativity and their passion for new and changing technology. This of course will be a monumental challenge but, if we can incorporate the technological skills of the young with the managerial and implementation skills that years of experience brings we will have a workforce second to none. |
