If companies want to keep their superstars, they had better learn more about what different generations want at work. This is the view of Theresa Ackerman, manager for operational excellence at T-Systems. She says Generation X are people born from about 1965 to the 1980s, while Generation Y, or millennials, are those born from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. She does stress that there are many different definitions. "It is not always practical to accommodate each and every generation with every single need, but a meaningful effort, on the part of the employer, to accommodate the varying needs will most definitely make a difference," she says. Ackerman has the following advice for keeping millennials happy at work: • Be upfront about what the company is offering and what is expected in return; • Consider rotational assignments; challenging workers to create and redesign processes or products; • Provide constant, thoughtful feedback; and • Ensure that progression opportunities are a...
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