Poll What millennials want

As generational gaps in the workforce widen, U.S. companies are asking themselves “What do millennials want?” in order to more successfully recruit and retain younger employees.So NJBIZ asked our readers, between the ages of 21 and 35, to tell us: What do you want in the workplace? Here’s what they had to say:

If you could alter your work hours, would you?

47 percent:  Yes — the 9 to 5 schedule doesn’t work for me. As a night owl whose most productive hours are between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m., mornings are absolutely dreadful.

33 percent: I’d never work for a company that designates a specific time and place in which I must work. I have assigned tasks, and I work hard to complete them on time —what does it matter where and when I work?

20 percent: No. Everyone should work from 9 to 5 in order to make the world more efficient.

If your company offered you the opportunity to work from home, how would it affect your productivity?

60 percent:  While my productivity would increase, I don’t know that I’d appreciate being “available” outside of normal business hours — how about spending just three days in the office and two days at home?

21 percent: You mean I don’t have to deal with a stressful commute just to sit for nine hours in a cubicle? I’d make myself available around the clock if it meant not having to endure that another day. 

19 percent: My job gets me out of the house and allows me to focus on my work — if I had to work from home, my productivity and happiness would undoubtedly suffer.

Which benefits would you require in order to accept a job?

52 percent: Average health care, retirement accounts, two weeks’ vacation — wait a minute — isn’t that what everyone gets?

40 percent: On-site medical care, flex-time, unlimited vacation and sick days, work-from-home opportunities, highly-diversified investment options and more. And yes, I’d accept a job with less income at a company that offered me such benefits.

8 percent: What benefits? Just pay me. I’ll figure everything else out on my own and leave when it’s no longer working for me.

How long do you expect to stay at your current job?

76 percent: It depends on if I’m being compensated fairly, if I enjoy my work environment and colleagues, and if the job is flexible enough for me to pursue other interests. On average, I’ll stay with a job for one to three years.

12 percent: I’m never updating my resume again — not only am I happy with my current job, but the company encourages me to incorporate my other passions and seek out different growth opportunities within the organization. 

12 percent: I’m quitting tomorrow. I’ve been looking for another job for months — I haven’t found one yet, but I’m optimistic.

Are you saving for retirement yet?

62 percent: I put away what I can, but I don’t think I make enough money to really make a dent.

26 percent: Um … no. But I will. Eventually.

12 percent: Work hard, play hard — I invest at least 50 percent of every paycheck.

Survey data: 150 respondents, U.S. and Canada, between the ages of 21 and 35 that have held at least one part-time job.