The question is, “What can trainers do to engage Generation Y workers in training?”
Here is how our experts responded:
As Generation Y employees enter the workforce and advance within a company, HR professionals need to keep in mind that the expectations and needs of these 20-somethings differ from those of their older colleagues. Generation Y or “Internet Generation” employees were raised on technology and are the products of a child-centered, “narcissistic” culture, according to Pat Schnee and Bob Lewis, who are professional trainers from the University of Texas at Austin’s Continuing Education Professional Development Center.
When it comes to training Generation Y workers, trainers need to explain how the training material relates specifically to individual workers. For example, “…when giving safety training to the young workforce, you’ve got to tie it back to them—not to the organization. It’s got to be about how a particular behavior will affect them,” Schnee said in an interview with OSHA Compliance Advisor.
So, during safety training for Generation Y, Schnee and Lewis use anecdotes that illustrate the results of noncompliance.
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And since young workers want to be consulted and engaged in meaningful tasks, another effective strategy is to let young workers be involved in decisions about training, Schnee explains. “These workers have so much value, they’re so smart, and they have a lot to offer, but you’ve got to give them a role in making decisions.”
This could mean organizing or even delivering the training; participating on a committee that assesses the benefit of new training methods; or, in safety training, asking for their input to see if there’s a better, safer way to do something.
When introducing a procedure to Generation Y workers, be sure to explain why as well as what. Although this can take more time than simply stating a requirement, Schnee said, it’s time well spent.
What’s the bottom line when training young workers? “Ask, don’t tell,” she said. “Be fair, consistent, and relevant.”
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In tomorrow’s Advisor, we’ll talk about training older generations, plus we’ll look at a dynamic online training resource of ready-to-use courses on dozens of key HR topics.