When I am the boss

Millennials may be acting as change advocates today when it comes to re-shaping organisational culture, timings, processes and more. 

At least that is what a poll garnered from almost 2,00,000 employees shows. Millennials are ‘waiting’ for their employers to catch up with them, it says

“Today’s employees expect respect, dignity and inclusion as a given and a non-negotiable part of the organisation’s culture. They look for an environment which fosters open and transparent communication. They wish to work with managers who are comfortable with dissent and encourage them to have more pragmatic decision making. The tolerance for an autocratic style of management is increasingly getting marginalised as more and more employees seek managers who are collaborative in their approach,” says Anushree Singh, director HR – labels and graphic materials, South Asia, Avery Dennison.

A survey of 10,029 members of the general population based in China, Germany, India, the UK and the US conducted by PwC says that employees believe that ideal employer is an organisation whose values match with their own, indicating that the employees want their employer/boss to bring in massive changes in the present as compared to how organisations have been operating to date.

According to Pooja Lal, head – strategic initiatives, BI WORLDWIDE India, “Employees have a need for transparency, be it the organisation’s vision, strategies, successes or failures. Sharing regular updates, celebrating small and big wins, creating social recognition within the organisation town halls and conversations with employees on the future plans for the organisation are critical [for a boss].”

At work, the key to engage with the employees is to recognise their efforts on a regular basis. Though recognition can come from anywhere, the top-down approach is important. However, the manager can inculcate the culture of peer-recognition within the team which will make the culture more participative. Another important attribute that employees expect in their bosses is for them to be good listeners, they want their bosses to not only ‘hear’ them out, but actually ‘listen’ to what they have to say, be it their suggestions or their grievances. This will help in strengthening the bond between the boss and the employee.

Regular benefits now also need to move beyond a gym membership, in-house pantry/library or a casual work culture. Employees, besides the alignment of their values of that with the organisation, are also looking at additional incentives like paid vacation, health insurance and retirement plans, etc, that offer the flexibility and the possibilities to lead a better life. Gallup research on the generation next revealed that employees care deeply about work-life balance, and place an importance on having a life — not just a job.

Vinay Bassi, chief human resources officer, Arvind Limited, says, “New age employees are performance-oriented and expect their managers to enable their performance, and thereby growth. With a highly competitive work environment, managers that encourage their employees to upskill by providing them with the best of the technologies to deliver are usually the preferred choice of the modern workforce. 

With employees seeking work-life balance, a boss that respects this aspect of employees’ lives is fast gaining popularity. Managers that allow the workforce to work remotely and manage their own work hours can be crowned the new-age boss. Apart from these expectations, a manager who sets the bar high for his subordinates by creating a work environment based on trust while being involved in charting a career for them is highly appreciated.”

There are other additional expectations as well such as improvement in the communication channels, changes in wage benefits, demotion or appraisal of a particular employee, flexible working hours, and more. 

The new-age employees are looking to work with an organisation that offers them a solid footing. Their first priority is an opportunity where they can capitalise on their abilities, giving them stability to help carve a future. 

If you are the HR manager or a boss, create a process or a system where the employees can share their expectations based on their views/feedback/insights to strengthen the organisation’s culture, say experts. 

And before you know, you and your employees would be speaking the same language as yours.

INTERN IN LEADERSHIP

• With employees seeking work-life balance, a boss that respects this aspect of employees’ lives is fast gaining popularity
   
• Managers that allow the workforce to work remotely and manage their own work hours can be crowned the new-age boss

The writer is manager-human resources, Sila