Why Millennials and Technology are Changing the Future Workplace
As digital natives, millennials in the workplace grew up in the first generation of laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Today, it is quickly growing as the future of business with more than four million remote workers in the UK. Their ability to embrace innovation and handle mobile technology offer unique career opportunities and businesses. A recent report by The Modern Workplace 2018, showed that workers from many countries are choosing to spend more time working from home or during their travels. Meanwhile, the UK is comparatively slow in embracing these changes, which could negatively impact worker satisfaction.
With millennials continuing to be the driving force behind this career change, remote work has quickly shifted from short-lived trends to a booming practice in thousands of companies across the globe. Approximately 77% of millennials believe that flexible work hours are key to boosting career satisfaction and productivity, while 37% are, or are currently planning to, work on their own.
These are digital natives that grew up in a world full of technology. They are also diverse, and Gen Z has been forced to face many global issues that previous generations struggled with, such as immigration, same-sex marriage, alternative sexual lifestyles, equal gender pay, and more. However, the most distinctive characteristic of Gen Z is their sense of entrepreneurship. Here are some reasons why millennials and technology are changing the future workplace.
Adapting to Work Flexibility
According to the 2017 Deloitte Millennial Survey, research states that two out of three millennials claim their employers have adapted to flexible work arrangements. They found that the greater the flexibility, the higher the results were in company satisfaction, productivity, and engagement among millennial employees. In the United Kingdom, 37% of companies offer flexibility for their staff. While the number of flexible employees continues to grow, so do the hours of team collaboration lost and the lack of human contact. As a result, the rise of working from home and flexible hours has led to an increased investment in Skype or video conferencing chats. However, younger millennials are keen on being productive outside the traditional 9-5 job and working anywhere with Wi-Fi.
Diversity in the Remote Workforce
According to Adam Smiley Poswolsky, workplace speaker and best-selling author, it is the flexibility of the hours you’re working that defines the role you have. Experts say that, in order to strengthen your candidacy, you must tailor your resume to each remote job that you apply to. Looking outside of the physical limitations of the company allows candidates the freedom to apply and provide a diverse pool of applicants. While the millennial generation continues to raise its influence and demands, our competitive nature allows us to work and solve problems, interact, and develop communication in multiple cultures and languages.
Investment in Technology
Companies with a remote staff have the opportunity to save money and invest in training. The term “smart working,” allows individuals the freedom to work away from the office, at home, local café, or as they travel. This will enable employees to stay connected no matter where they are located across the globe. As Generation Z continues to enhance its technological skills, we will continue to see the increased adoption of team communication and collaboration tools, whether they are used in the workplace or online.
While the nature of the workplace has changed dramatically within the past decade, the advancement in technology is moving faster than ever. It is estimated that technology will increase up to 32% more from where it is now. This will impact every aspect of management – from how businesses retain and attract employees to how employees communicate and collaborate.
Due to the powerful advancements in communication and technology, moving the physical workplace online will enable the millennial generation to combine life between work and home, as well as achieve balance in both. While our human needs are to be social and collaborate as a team, balancing flexibility and discipline is the key to a successful remote workplace.
Author: freelance writer Lucy Wyndham
Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash