Engaging the Gen Y

Perhaps the most exciting constituents of the Indian workforce are the Gen Y. The key is to 'engage' the most digitally sophisticated generation. However engagement challenges are absolutely different when it comes to Gen Y -

The ‘Generation Y and workplace Annual Report’-2010 by Johnson Controls is a watershed research on the workplaces for the future. The report clearly states – Generation Y is, perhaps,  who are looking for a sustainable environment offering a social structure within both a
physical & virtual environment. Generation Y is the working population aged between 18 – 25 years who are techno – savvy, diverse and demanding. The report indicates:

• Workplace is important in attracting & retaining Gen Y.
• Location of a company plays an important role in choice of a workplace.
• Workspace allocation and technological provisions contribute to productivity and creativity.
• Workplaces must be flexible & adaptable supporting both formal & informal collaborative engagement & interaction.

The report clearly establishes a link between nature of workplace and employee engagement. – ‘The workplace contributes to the level of emotional engagement of individuals with their work. The working environment of the Gen Y is a place they emotionally engage with; a space where they socialize in with other co-workers and a space which supports their health and well-being.’