Your Ping-Pong Table Sucks What Millennials Actually Want

Your Ping-Pong Table Sucks What Millennials Actually Want Millennials can  seem like a hard group to please. In fact, about two-thirds of employers say their organisations struggle to manage millennials, according to a study by Bentley University.  Today, it might seem as if employers believe that ping-pong tables and fancy, tangible benefits is the way of attracting Generation Y. It  turns out, however, that they arent very different from the older generations. Lets take a look at the 7 intangible benefits that millennials actually want, according to a survey by MindTickle. 1. Professional Development Training Development is the most coveted work benefit to millennials.  When offering training, its important to communicate the purpose of your training content. Understanding the strategic context behind what happens internally in the organisation increases motivation. 95% of millennials report working harder when they understand the companys goals.  2. Autonomy No one likes a micromanager. Give your young workforce some freedom, and chances are they will reward you with  high quality work. Doing this can increase the sense of ownership over a task, which helps make the employee feel personally invested in the task. 3. Shared Achievement Millennials like to collaborate, and have a sense of being a part of something bigger than themselves. You can make your Generation Y employees feel like a part of the company by, well, literally making them a part of the company. Offer shares in the company as a benefit. 4. Flexible Schedule Who doesnt like the thought of working away from the office once in a while? Offering flexible in-office hours to the workforce is a declaration of trust; find a way to measure change in output to identify the employees that  can handle working away from the office and the ones that cant. 5. Creative Freedom Deloittes third annual millennial survey found that 78% of millennials are influenced by how innovative a company is when deciding if they want to work there. Its not enough just to say that your company is innovative; prove it. Create a culture of innovation, and talented millennials will be more inclined to want to work for you. 6. Aligned Values A survey by Net Impact, undertaken in 2012 in the US, discovered that 58% of workers would accept a 15% pay cut to work for an organisation with values that are aligned with their own. Find out what your employees care about,  implement CSR initiatives and stick with them. Done right, it can greatly increase employee loyalty. 7. Challenging Opportunities While millennials have been scrutinised for bad work ethics by employers, millennial life coach Megan Abbot says that older employers should accept and strive to understand what drives this new generation.” She elaborates,  â€œOlder generations tend to glorify hard work as a virtue in and of itself, but millennials typically only value work insofar as it creates the results, or the acknowledgment or the growth they desire.” So there you have it, the 7 intangible benefits that millennials crave. For more information, see the presentation below. [Top image: Shutterstock]

Health and Safety Signage Your Business Needs

Health and Safety Signage Your Business Needs As a business owner, employer and the caretaker of your business property, you’re responsible for a lot of different issues. Stock, customer experience and satisfaction, payroll, the happiness of your employees and of course, keeping your staff and your customers safe. Safety in the workplace is paramount, regardless of the size of your premises or the kind of business you’re operating. From the biggest of warehouses to the most modest of offices, each and every business has a duty and a legal requirement to keep everyone in the vicinity safe. Not only does preventing injuries and accidents reflect well on you as an employer, but it also prevents personal injury lawsuits and other legality problems from arising. One of the simplest ways of keeping your employees and clients safe is the use of health and safety signage â€" check out mysafetysign.com for the latest in official signage. And the best way to indicate what kind of signage you need for your business is to have experts conduct a risk assessment of your premises. You’ve probably seen health and safety signage like this in public places or work environments before, but do you know what they mean? Which signs are the most important to have? Discover the most common health and safety signage and why you should have them, below. Fire notices Knowing what to do in the event of a fire is crucial. Experiencing a fire at home is one thing, but a fire in the workplace where the responsibility of employees and members of the public is at your door is daunting, to say the least. There are various kinds of fire notices which should be visible on your premises. These notices should provide: What to do in the event of a fire Clear instructions in standard text formats Illustrate where the nearest exits are Describe the evacuation point Who should raise the alarm Where fire equipment is located and how to use it These notices should be displayed in full view, including in communal areas, noticeboards and on the back of doors etc. Emergency escape routes/signs There are many reasons why the people on your premises might need to use an emergency escape route. You must help them locate them. Signs with emergency routes marked clearly Fire exit signs above the appropriate doors Directional signs to the emergency exits All door signs should be illuminated First Aid signage Employees must be aware of the first aid points within your premises. A white cross on a green background is usually seen. Or red and white respectively. These should be visible and as an employer, you should have a list of registered first aiders available too. Trip hazards Trips and falls are one of the most common personal injury cases. So, to keep people safe and legal action minimal, its important to draw attention to trip hazards in the workplace, awkwardly placed steps and low ceilings. Hazard warnings are usually yellow with black writing Should be placed adjacent to the hazard where they can be easily seen Consider hazard tape on low door mantels or hidden steps

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Pros Reveal How to Become a Great Manager

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Pros Reveal How to Become a Great Manager For some people, achieving supervisor status is a career dream come true. They have put in long hours, committed their creativity and energy to helping the company succeed and now will reap the benefits.Unfortunately, many companies throw new supervisors into the management waters without a boat or even a life preserver. Its little wonder that many new managers sink in such conditions.There are ways, however, to minimize the chances of being swept under, including taking the time to understand the new position, what will be expected of you, and how you can lead a group of people with integrity and professionalism.Among the suggestions from experienced managers: Listen to employees. This is the time to find out what their expectations are, what they believe to be critical issues. Perhaps they need support with projects, or are having difficulties with interactions with another department. They key is to ask lots of questions and listen carefully without injecting your own opinion. Und erstand the company agenda. Never assume because youve got experience with an employer that you understand what you are supposed to do as a supervisor. Talk to your boss and find out the goals he or she has, what they expect you to accomplish. Find out how the boss likes to communicate (meetings, telephone, e-mail), and how often these communications should be made. Try to avoid jumping to conclusions give yourself time to just listen and observe and dont waste energies trying to fit everything into black and white scenarios. Ask for help. Just because youve now got that management title doesnt mean youve become some kind of superhero. Ask for help from your boss, your customers, your peers, your employees. They will appreciate that you are receptive to new ideas and innovations, and dont expect to ramrod through your own opinions simply because you are in charge. Set the tone. From the beginning its critical that you establish good conduct so that employees can see firsthand your expectations. Be professional, and protect the privacy of others. Now that youre in a supervisory role, gossiping for any reason is a no-no. If you say youre going to do something, be dependable and follow-through. Do not make promises you cant keep.One of the key ways to establish a professional, fair image is to avoid criticizing other departments or individuals in front of other employees, or make guesses about a situation where you dont have all the facts. Apologize if youve made a mistake, and dont blame others to cover an error. Lead by example. By being courteous, fair and cool in the face of criticism, you are showing workers exactly how you want customers treated. Or, if you expect employees to be organized, dont show up late for meetings, shuffling papers and unprepared to give your report. Be a nice person. This may sound silly, especially if you believe you are already a nice person. But its amazing how many young supervisors start to lose their polite behavior when they re stressed from trying to meet new goals and expectations. By remaining respectful and courteous to employees, you are building the most important block of your career employee commitment. And, most of the nice supervisors will say that employees who are treated well are more than willing to jump in a help a new boss whenever its needed. Tyrant bosses rarely get any help volunteered, and workers may even try to sabotage them. Know the rules. Take time to read your new job description, and the job descriptions and past performance evaluations of those you will supervise. Understand company policies and procedures, and where to refer employees if you cannot answer a question. Know your training responsibilities, employee benefits, and any collective bargaining agreement with workers.del.icio.us