Expanding your business often requires you to have a productive workforce. However, this does not come easy, especially in the pool and spa industry. Often, you’ll have to create an environment that motivates people to deliver nothing but the best.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it is important to note that most of the workforce today is aged 25-40. Also, there is an upcoming workforce, Gen Z, aged 15-25. Sadly, millennials are popularly known for job-hopping. And it’s time for employers to stop this by making some changes. “The truth is millennials are very productive and can be trusted with a lot in the job market since they are talented,” states Jason Dorsey, president of The Center for Generational Kinetics. “Nonetheless, it is essential for all company owners to understand what they need and meet their requirements.”

Millenials have tremendous potential that can expand your business in the pool and spa industry. All you have to do is value them and give them a chance to make a difference in your company.

president of The Center for Generational Kinetics, Jason Dorsey

What do Millennials need? 

Meaningful work

“Well, every employee loves doing meaningful work. But millennials consider meaningful work more important than everyone else,” Jack Altschuler, president of Fully Alive Leadership, Northbrook, Ill.

Millennials desire to work in a workplace that offers motivation. Jack proceeds to say, “This is how millennials reason; if I’m going to work on a simple, 30-minute installation process for the whole day, I won’t feel useful. So, I’ll do my best to get out of here as soon as I can since I’m not experiencing any growth.” All in all, millennials are more interested in work that contributes to their growth and others’ lives.

Moreover, they want companies to get involved in community work. So, it is up to the employer in the pool and spa industry to understand this. Richard Avdoian, a team member development consultant in Metropolitan St. Louis, states, “Millennials want their employers to take part in bettering the lives of others.”

Productive labor

Millennials need to know that their efforts are bringing in a larger clientele and profit. Randy Goruk, president of The Randall Wade Group, Scottsdale, Ariz, says, “Millenials desire to get involved in decision making. They want employers to listen to their opinions.” They often have great ideas, but if there is nobody to listen to them, they look for somewhere else where their opinions will be considered.

Professional growth and development 

Dorsey states, “It is important for millennials to grow as better people in their jobs. They want to improve their skills to build solid careers in the pool and spa industry.” Additionally, millennials want to secure their jobs by improving their professionalism since there have been minimal job opportunities of late. And they want their employers to guide them on this. Good employers give millennials feedback on their performance in the right manner.

Flexible work hours and unstructured work environments

Another thing that millennials desire in jobs is flexibility. Most of them are trying to balance their work-life and career. Thus, employers need to offer flexible work schedules for them. So, the old 9 to 5 job tradition does not work for them. Dorsey states, “Healthcare is essential to most millennials. Thus, employers need to issue a health insurance cover for them. Nonetheless, Gen Z seems less interested in health insurance.”Gen Z desires to have their wages paid on flexible terms. They prefer getting paid at the end of every shift rather than getting monthly wages; It helps them make better financial decisions.

Where does your company lie?

From this article, it is clear to see how employers can establish millennial-friendly workplaces in the pool and spa industry. Typically, it is clever to create a work-friendly environment that best suit a millennial’s requirements. Avdoian says, “Spare some time to organize work meetings with your employees. Here, you can ask the millennials their opinions and views on certain subject matters. Some of the questions you can ask them include, “What do you find motivating in the workplace? What improvements would you like us to make? Are you satisfied with our compensation plans?”

How do you know your business has met the millennial’s needs?

Below are some of the questions you can use to determine whether your company’s environment is suitable for millennials. Answer each of the questions using:

• 0 for “Never.”
• 4 for “Seldom.”
• 8 for “Often.”
• 10 for “Regularly.”

Once you are done, calculate the total score at the bottom of this page.

1. Does your company work towards bettering the lives of others?
2. Have you taken part in charitable community projects?
3. Are your staff members included in the decision-making process?
4. Does your company offer opportunities for personal and professional growth?
5. Do you tell your employees how their actions affect the growth of the company?
6. Does the company offer regular performance?
7. Are working hours flexible?
8. Does the company’s benefit mix show team member preferences?
9. Do you ask your employees how they view their workplace environment?

Interpretation of results

• 70: Your work environment is millennial-friendly
• 55-70: You need to work on some things to make the workplace more millennial-friendly.
• 55: You have to change and enhance your understanding and mentality of millennials.

Asking such questions would help you know whether your millennial employees are happy with their work. Whenever you identify something, your employees are not happy; it would help if you change it. Consequently, you’ll be able to have a highly motivated and productive workforce that offers quality services. At the end of the day, your company will receive increased sales, revenues, and profits.