Millennials make up a large part of today’s workforce which means employers must understand what motivates them if they want strong retention high engagement and consistent performance. At Westray Recruitment Group we support businesses across manufacturing engineering professional services logistics and commercial sectors and we see clear patterns in what helps organisations get the best out of their Millennial employees.
Millennials consistently express a strong desire for meaningful work ethical, leadership opportunities, flexible working models, structured development and fair recognition. They want workplaces that support both their professional goals and their personal wellbeing. When companies respond to these needs they see higher engagement increased productivity and stronger loyalty.
With this in mind here is how employers can bring out the best in their Millennial workforce.
And if you interested in how to attract other generations within the workforce:
According to the Millennial Playbook Millennials prioritise company ethics salary and flexibility. They want to work for organisations that behave responsibly and support a healthy balance between work and home life. They favour employers who demonstrate social integrity and offer hybrid remote or flexible scheduling options.
These factors are now fundamental in attracting Millennial employees and keeping them engaged.
The report reveals that 80% of Millennials are prepared to commute for up to an hour while the rest prefer shorter travel times. Working patterns split almost evenly with 53%preferring traditional eight hour shifts and 47% preferring intensive twelve hour rotations. Preferences for teamwork also split with 53% favouring collaborative work and the remainder preferring independence.
These insights show that Millennials are adaptable and varied in their working styles which means employers benefit most when they offer choice and flexibility.
Millennials appreciate roles where they enjoy the work and have leadership opportunities. They thrive when they are trusted to take on responsibility and when their contributions are recognised. A culture where they feel valued helps build loyalty and long term commitment.
The Playbook highlights that Millennials are strongly motivated by clear communication structures and defined expectations. One participant said
“Clear direction is something we’re looking to achieve” illustrating how important clarity is for productivity and trust.
Burnout prevention and up to date training were also identified as key needs for Millennial employees who want strong support for both role performance and long term upskilling.
Feedback preferences show that 80% of Millennials prefer feedback delivered in a formal manner and 67% prefer face to face discussions. They favour monthly or quarterly reviews over very frequent informal check ins. This highlights their desire for professionalism and meaningful evaluation.
Millennials stay in roles where they enjoy the work see progression and feel connected to a sense of purpose. One solicitor in the research stated
“It’s about feeling like you’re a part of something” showing that belonging and impact are key motivators.
The top reasons Millennials leave a role include a lack of appreciation and overwhelming workloads. A participant described the issue as“An imbalance between employer and employee loyalty”
highlighting how strongly Millennials value fairness recognition and trust. Other factors include poor management limited progression and lack of clarity around expectations.
When Millennials feel respected and supported they are significantly more likely to stay.
Less than 15% of Millennials feel their workplace fully covers training communication and skills development needs. They want clearer development plans and better upskilling opportunities. Comments in the report included;
“Hire for attitude but train for skillset”and “Annual appraisals should lay out your development plan”showing strong demand for structured growth pathways.
This builds a workforce that is more capable and more committed.
Over half of Millennials prefer online learning while 27% prefer in person workshops and 20 percent value shadowing or mentoring. This shows that digital learning combined with human support is the most effective approach for this generation.
To get the best out of Millennial employees employers must create cultures that feel transparent supportive and growth focused. Millennials stay longer in companies that show genuine commitment to communication wellbeing and development.
A Millennial friendly culture usually includes;
These elements create engaged high performing teams and reduce costly turnover.
If you are also managing Gen Z you may find this helpful.
At Westray Recruitment Group we help businesses attract engage and retain Millennial employees with strategies built around real workforce insight. Our MultiGen research gives employers a clear understanding of what motivates different generations and how to build long term success through effective people practices.
If your business wants support in attracting Millennial talent or improving Millennial performance our team is ready to help.
Contact us
Email: info@westray.co.uk
Telephone: 0191 492 6622
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