‘Open communication’ is a top perk for millennials

Millennials aren’t nearly as enigmatic as some people say.

Flighty, perhaps, smartphone-obsessed, you bet, but when it comes to work perks, millennials are not unlike other humans. According to a survey of millennial workers conducted by 15Five, 81 percent said they’d rather work for a company that “values open communication” than a business that offers perks like great health insurance, gym memberships or free food.

Unfortunately, a mere 15 percent of survey respondents indicated their current company cultivates an atmosphere of honesty and constructive two-way conversation. What’s to blame? The infographic points out the “generational divide,” which frequently causes miscommunication and conflict.

According to the graphic, 40 percent of millennials say, “Boomers and Gen Xers are more guarded and less open.” Thirty-eight percent of Boomers, however, view millennials as “more honest but sometimes too brash and opinionated.”

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Millennials also tend to prefer indirect forms of communications, such as texting, posting on social media or emailing. Boomers often prefer phone calls and face-to-face chats. Thus, all too often, the twain shan’t meet.

Another barrier to better internal communication is that certain employees rarely speak up. The infographic states:

Forty percent share their ideas for improving their roles/job performance just a few times a year or less.

Other roadblocks to better communication with managers include:

• Thirty-one percent cite a lack of transparency from higher-ups.
• Twenty-four percent say their managers are too busy to listen.
• Twenty-three percent say their managers are simply not good at communicating.

It’s an age-old problem. How do you get a bunch of dissimilar people to row in the same direction? Regardless of age, it starts—and ends—with better communication. Check out the rest of the infographic below for more ideas on how to improve this essential business element.

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