December 19, 2012
Freedom Over Finances: Study Says Millennials Value Flexibility Over Salary
Social media truly has a grip on society today, especially when it comes to young professionals. According to this PayScale study, millennials (ages 18-29) want a corporate culture that embraces innovation, entrepreneurship and allows them to utilize social media sites at work without being reprimanded.
In other words, Gen Y highly values the opportunity to access Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets at work for personal—-as well as professional—use. And four out of five college students said they’d like to be able to choose the tablets and smartphones they use for work. Three out of five expect employers to throw in the right to work remotely with a flexible schedule.
“Millennials are arming themselves with skills and educational training focused in technology and social media, two areas with great growth potential,” Katie Bardaro, lead economist for PayScale, said in a statement.
Here’s the shocker:
About one-third of the respondents, representing college students and young professionals, said they’d choose more personal freedom, or flexibility, over a higher salary.
On the flip side, studies have shown that flexibility offers many benefits to both the employee and the employer. Employees who have flexibility also tend to report greater engagement on the job, greater job satisfaction and greater desire to stay with the organization.
If flexibility is one of your top must-haves, consider these questions before accepting a job offer:
- Is the company flexible in terms of work mobility?
- What is the company’s policy on social media sites during work hours?
- Does the company issue computers and phones to their employees? Are they allowed for personal use?
What do you think? Do you prioritize flexibility over salary? #SoundOff and follow Jamie on Twitter @JayNHarrison.