Most human resource managers try to serenade the 18-25 year olds, the Generation Y, by either money or promise of a fun-filled workplace. If only they had known what really excites these young ones about their jobs. Opportunity to learn, quality of work-life and the ephemeral promise of meaningful work score big with Gen Y workers in India, according to a just released global report.
Vibrant colours at office together with space and time flexibility also increase employer attractiveness for Indias army of Gen Y workers, according to Generation Y and the Workplace Annual Report 2010, commissioned by Johnson Controls, a diversified technology and services firm. The survey was conducted in the US, UK, Germany, China and India .
Gen Yers can be an HR managers dream or nightmare, for they make for a cheap, yet highly-charged and ambitious pool of workers, but can easily rock the workplace with their moody ways.
Unlike in India, most Gen Y people globally gave priority to work colleagues over meaningful work. Since quality of life is a matter of high priority, more than half of the respondents (54%) in India against 37% globally prefer support facilities like concierge services and 35% want even soft finishes like carpets at the workplace. Chinese, for instance, prefer floor tiles.
In India , the respondents numbered 897, including 80% between the age of 18 and 25 years. Students accounted for 75% of the respondents. There were more male respondents (68%) than female (32%).
As far as space preferences are concerned, three-fourths of the respondents in the age group 18-25 would prefer to work in a flexible way. Almost all of them (92%) are in favour of personalising their individual workspaces. While 76% prefer to have their own desks, 15% are okay with shared workspaces. Besides, one in three respondents (30%) would like to opt for natural light in the working environment.
The Generation Y, points out the survey, is also getting environmentally conscious. Among 18-25 year olds, 62% would prefer the employer to provide a workplace which is more than environmentally compliant. Some of them are even willing to walk the talk themselves. While about half of the respondents (49%) would like to travel by a car, two-thirds (65%) out of them would prefer hybrid cars. The corresponding figure globally for hybrid cars is 30% out of 40% respectively.
Another 18% of Generation Y in India would like to travel on a motorcycle or a scooter, 16% by public transport, and 8% by a bicycle. Walking finds favour with 9% respondents.
Saying that Generation Y in India is ambitious, optimistic, embraces change and has a clear sense of where they are headed, the survey adds: Most are entrepreneurial and business-savvy, as well as technologically capable and connected. They are keen to participate in the countrys future and success, demonstrating their ambition to take the country forward.
Source: The Financial Express
Published on 22 May 2010