THEY ENACT POSITIVE CHANGE
IN THE WORKPLACE
Millennial men and women are proving to be a powerful source of
positive change and a key way they achieve it is through mentor-ship:
A near majority of millennials (46 per cent) are more likely
to have a mentor than their colleagues over 35. These networks are
vital as they help foster a corporate culture that not only attracts,
but maintains millennial talent.
While positive change is on the rise, there is an untapped
opportunity for men to do more to further equality and progress
in the workplace. When it comes to mentorship, women primar-ily
support each other (83 per cent of women are mentors to other
women). The research also suggests millennial men realize there
is more work to be done on their end in order to advance prog-ress
and equality for women. Almost two thirds of millennial men
(65 per cent) believe they need to make more sacrifices in their
personal lives than the prior generation of working men in order
to be successful. The findings suggest millennial women’s commit-ment
to enforcing positive change in the workplace encourages the
same behaviour in their male counterparts, a vital step towards
true equality for men and women.
It’s critical that corporate Canada find ways to engage and sup-port
millennials, a generation that brings its own unique skill set
and perspective to all manner of industries. American Express
aims to foster a corporate culture that attracts and retains mil-lennial
talent by offering flexible hours, a work-from-home policy
and mentorship/sponsorship opportunities; values that millen-nials
consider when determining whether an organization meets
their needs.
When employers create an environment that appeals to mil-lennials’
needs – communicating values, promoting mentorship/
sponsorship networks and offering internal and external develop-ment
opportunities – they will be rewarded with longevity and
loyalty by their millennial employees. The survey’s key takeaway
demonstrated that when millennials find an organization with
compatible values, they are willing to work hard and make a long-term
commitment to their career and to their workplace. n
Catherine Finley is vice president, human resources North America
for American Express.
perspectives
MILLENNIALS ARE
AMBITIOUS, POSSESS A
STRONG WORK ETHIC AND
ARE INVESTED IN THEIR
CAREERS AND FINANCES.
wavebreakmediamicro/123RF
60 ❚ FEBRUARY 2019 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL