Millennials make up more and more of our workforce and will account for almost 50 percent of employees by the year 2020. Not only do you need to attract this future generation of workers to your company. But you also need to have practices in place that will keep millennials in the workplace engaged, enthusiastic, and productive. One of the key areas for millennials is mobility. Unlike past generations who are used to coming into an office every morning at 8 a.m., millennials have developed habits of always being on the go. To confine them often means stifling their creativity and ability to network. This will not bring out the best in them and may ultimately cause them to seek employment elsewhere.
Why Millennials Need Mobility
When is the last time you saw a 20-something-year-old without a cell phone nearby? Whether we like it or not, the younger generation depends on their mobile devices for everything from accessing information to connecting with others. If you try to separate them from their smartphones or tablets, you’ll likely be in for a fight. Why not work with their natural instincts rather than against them? There are plenty of ways to incorporate mobility into your workplace, and the benefits go both ways.
Benefits to Millennials in the Workplace
It Allows Them To Use Smart Devices
When you incorporate enterprise mobility through mobile timekeeping and other methods, you’re not only allowing millennials to have their devices with them, you’re actually encouraging their use. Instead of forcing your younger workers to lug around company laptops or use outdated time clocks, you can harness the power of the device they’re already glued to. There is no extra equipment to invest in and no extra training for these mobile-minded individuals to endure. Employees can clock in or out, clock into tasks or projects, and even request leave or vacations, right from their personal mobile device.
Mobile Timekeeping Empowers Employees
When you give millennials the freedom they crave, you’re empowering them to do more. Most millennials want to achieve and produce for your company, but they want to do it in their own way. When you allow them to work from home, set their own hours, or work remotely, you’re showing them that you believe in their abilities and support their unique work habits. Not only will your employees be happier, but they’ll also be willing to work even harder for you.
Mobility Equals Flexibility
Flexibility is everything to millennials in the workplace, and there is nothing more flexible than employee self-service software. When you provide easy ways for them to report time and communicate with their HR managers, your younger employees will respond by working harder and reporting more accurately.
It Allows Them To Be Connected At All Times
Unlike previous generations that wanted to clock out at 5 pm and not worry about work again until the next morning, millennials are used to being connected 24/7. They want to be able to collaborate with their colleagues during the workday and connect with possible sales leads at night. Don’t limit their desire to multi-task or you’ll likely lose out on valuable creativity, not to mention create an unmotivated employee. When your employees can use their personal devices any time of day or night to connect with the office, your business benefits.
Mobile Workforce Management Benefits
Managers Can Also Utilize Smart Devices
Not only can the millennial workforce use their own smart devices to track hours and projects, but your HR managers and supervisors can also log onto the system with their own devices to carry out a number of duties. Whether they want to clock in a group of employees or track the location of a worker, managers also benefit from the convenience of using their phones.
It Is Cost Effective?
Utilizing mobile devices in HR management makes sense on a number of levels. When you utilize mobile workforce management software, you no longer have to provide extra devices, supervise clocking in or out, or spend excess time calculating payroll, which saves you money. Mobile management continues to become more and more cost effective as the technology improves, and you’ll most likely save much more money in the long run than what you invest.
Mobile Workforce Management Is Secure
A common concern of having a mobile workforce is the security of the system. Hacking and breaches are becoming more and more common, and no business can easily withstand the blow of having data stolen or systems being brought down. When you utilize a secure cloud-based mobile workforce solution, you get a high level of security and the peace of mind that comes with it.
Millennials want to work for a company that is strongly branded and has a cohesive culture, but they also thrive on the freedom of choosing how, when, and where to work. In the coming years, these younger workers will start to make up more of your workforce, and you need to have the technology and processes in place to keep them engaged, happy, and productive. By utilizing mobile workforce tools, you can ensure your business will continue to thrive well into the future.
