Give Me Technology or Give Me…Another Employer?
11 Mar, 2010 | Written by Andrew Krzmarzick | under Generational Diversity, Social Media: Recruitment, Social Media: Retention
I was just reading a blog post by Brittany Ballenstadt over on NextGov’s Wired Workplace blog entitled, “Millennials Ignore IT Use Policies” where she revealed the findings of an Accenture survey of 5,595 employees and students ages 14 to 27 in 13 countries, including the United States. Three key findings are worth exploring in more depth:
- Millennials routinely bypass corporate approval when using devices and applications…furthermore, 45 percent said they access social media at work, whether prohibited or not, and nearly one-half access online collaborative tools and open source technologies from free public Web sites when those technologies are not available at work or when versions offered at work do not meet expectations.
- The survey also found that communication is shifting away from e-mail towards instant alternatives. While older Millennials (ages 23-27) still spend an average of 6.8 hours per week writing or receiving work-related e-mails, younger Millennials already in the workforce spend just 4.2 hours per week on e-mail and more time on text messaging via mobile phone (3 hours) or instant messaging (3.2 hours).
- Millennials in the United States also noted that state-of-the-art equipment and technology will be essential when choosing an employer. More than 52 percent of U.S. Millennials agreed or strongly agreed that technology would be a key factor in their employment decision, while 45 percent partly agreed and 13 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed.
What do you think? Does this hold true in your agency? And, if so, there seem to be security and training implications, eh?
Also posted on GovLoop – the premier social network for government.
Thank you for visiting the Generation Shift blog! I look forward to interacting with you as we work together to promote the power of four generations, social media and flexible work environments to transform the public and social sectors.
jessiex | June 5th, 2010 at 4:01 pm #
OMG, why is it so hard to find your contact info on your website/blog! Yo, Andrew, @jenx (jenninfer james) recommended you as a book reviewer for Neil Howe’s latest, “Millennials in the Workplace.” When I came to your site, I recognized your face. HI! If you want to review the book and write about it on your blog or another site, fill out the info here: https://spreadsheets1.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFF3TFB5SENnRTlkcVB3TUh4cUNUTHc6MQ
And, Andrew, you know me: I will personally cut you down if you attempt to position yourself as more expert than Mr. Howe and more knowledgeable than he is vis-a-vis generations. So, with all the candor in the world, I’d be delighted if you’d do a review of the book; your review need not be glowing, but if I sense an iota of superiority over him regarding generational theory, I will personally torment you on your own blog and show you the error of your ways.
Haha. How’d you like that for some modern-day PR from a fellow GenXer.
see you around town: literally and probably soon.
@jessiex
ps – feel free to share the opportunity with a select group of others you know whom are interested and aware of generational influences. the book is not cheap ($59) and is not a pop consumer book, but a serious biz book for HR and management-level folk. i trust you to be judicious.