How Can HR Leaders Humanize Workplace for the Next-Gen Workers?

Every step of the human resources lifecycle offers a unique opportunity to humanize the workplace. Sometimes, human resources professionals get so focused on doing the job that they forget about being human. They lose sight of things beyond the daily business interactions. With the next generation of 20 and early 30-somethings joining the workforce, HR leaders are looking for ways to make work-life easier, faster, adaptable, and more flexible. Humanizing the workplace is something that everyone can undertake to create a better workplace culture. Here are five different ways in which HR leaders can facilitate relationship-oriented interactions:

Intrapreneurship: Among the upcoming 20 and early 30-somethings, catering to their innovative and entrepreneurial spirit is a key retention strategy. Set up programs that allow employees to innovate within your organization.

Fair Treatment: When people feel they are being treated unfairly, they become less productive. Employees feel devalued when their thoughts are noted, but never acted upon. Establish a culture where people are provided abundant of professional development opportunities that empower them, instead of belittling at every opportunity you get.

Faster-Collaboration: Let’s face it, technology isn’t robbing us of our human-ness. It is an incredible medium that allows us to live and work more efficiently, collaboratively, and creatively. A collaborative work environment means more new ideas, leading to an innovative, successful company.

Democracy: Some of the fastest-growing brands in the market today are all built on the idea of customer equality. There is no reason why the next generation of leaders wants the principles of accessibility and shared consciousness not transformed into the workplace. Instead of a 40-hour work week, they want employers to offer more flexibility for work-from-home options, more benefits and less time wasted commuting.

Avoid Buzzwords: Today’s 20 and early 30-somethings have ushered in their own vernacular reflective of digital cultures, they don’t want the type of marketing speak seen in press releases and promotional materials. In simple words, avoid pretentious and useless business jargons and embrace, like, the millennial lingo.

Humanized workplaces are more profitable than others. With the above-mentioned touch-points within the work life cycle, HR leaders can create a deeper engagement and stronger workplace culture.