The Tribune

By Ian Ferguson

We constantly hear about the challenges of employing younger persons in the workforce. It appears as if veterans, Baby Boomers and today, even Generation Xers, have serious challenges in communicating with and focusing persons under the age of 30 on greater productivity and excellence. Just as many parents have issues relating to their children, and there are often great rifts between children and parents.

This dilemma is exacerbated in the work environment in the absence of blood relations and family obligations. Managers and supervisors, who often represent the older generations, throw their hands up in defeat when confronting the baggage and mindset of ‘Generation Y’ and ‘Generation Millennia’.

Our conversation today provides an opportunity for partnership between generations, and explores the many benefits of a youthful workforce. Young employees often bring new ideas and perspectives to the workplace. They are excited about sharing their ideas and giving suggestions as to how a business can use these ideas effectively.

Young employees are eager and willing to learn. They enjoy learning and are open to coaching and mentoring from others. If you can cite examples that disprove this statement, perhaps you need to employ varied learning tools to engage your young employees differently.

Young employees are enthusiastic, energetic and physically active. Engaged youth bring a level of energy to work products. Every good leader knows that most 21st century work environments, need quick minds and legs to get key functions done expediently and accurately.

Young employees are creative, adaptable, open-minded and learn quickly. Youth are interested in skill and knowledge-building opportunities. They thrive on being able to apply their creativity, and adapt quickly to meet new challenges and reject environments where they are asked to engage in rudimentary and monotonous tasks that do not test and strengthen their cognitive capacity.

Young employees are not afraid of technology or change. Youth embrace change more readily than their elders. They like the challenges and the opportunities that change brings. Businesses can use the skills that youth bring with regard to technology to implement cost saving technological changes.

Young employees are a wealth of knowledge. Youth are very knowledgeable as a result of being constantly plugged into the Internet. If there is something they do not know, they know how to find it. Use their ability to source information to your company’s advantage.

Young people are very comfortable in a diverse workplace. Youth have grown up in a diverse culture, and sometimes - despite the parental domestication - are able to discern respect and acceptance. They have a strong sense of individuality and welcome it in others.

Young people represent the future of business. Youth are the future customers of the business. By using the knowledge that youth bring to your workplace to help customise your services or products, your business is able to increase or expand its business opportunities.

NB: Ian R. Ferguson was educated locally, regionally and internationally, having earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Miami. During the course of his nearly 20 years in education, talent management and human resources, he has served both the public and private sector in senior management roles. He currently serves as manager of the Chamber Institute, and as a local consultant in the field, having assisted hundreds of local and regional businesses in improving business and service excellence through their human capital.