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- Millennials change jobs more frequently than previous generations.
- They might quit because they feel their work doesn’t have meaning.
- A manager can keep millennial workers from leaving by setting clear goals and assigning tasks that show an understanding of what drives them.
Millennials have a reputation as the “job-hopping” generation. In 2016, a Gallup poll revealed that 21% of millennials said they changed jobs within the past year (more than three times the number of non-millennials who reported the same), and 60% are open to new opportunities.
There’s a secret to keeping millennials workers from quitting, according to BetterUp, a startup that provides “virtual coaching” to tech company managers in Silicon Valley.
Millennials want to feel like their work has meaning.
“Americans, for better or worse, are spending more and more of their waking lives at work. So if they’re going to spend more time at work than with their family, at least let it be meaningful,” said Dr. Jacinta Jiménez, a psychologist who heads up the coaching department at BetterUp.
Data backs up the claim. Millennials in general work more hours, forfeit more vacation days, and retire much later than previous generations. They also make less money than their parents did at the same age. These conditions can result in burnout or a lack of engagement at work.
Jiménez says feeling that work has impact can be a huge motivating factor. A manager should set clear goals for their millennial workers and assign tasks that play to their strengths and passions. It shows an understanding of what excites them and trust in their abilities.
“You’re able to bring all of you to work. Your manager understands you as a person and your strengths. And that in itself can create meaning,” Jiménez said.
It might be enough to keep millennial workers from leaving.
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