Pic: INPIX-RF/IndiaPicture

Working from home, walking in 15 minutes late to work, taking time off for travel is long sabbatical, and to top it all a good pension and a gym membership in the office! Here's what the Gen Y group is demanding. 

For Renu Sharma (name changed) the idea of moving into the financial world and working long hours inside a massive company is not quite appealing. Money and work are not the be all and end all. "If you put all your effort into your job you lose sense of what you are living for," exclaims Sharma.

Well, Sharma is not alone. It has been found that a similar attitude to work is burgeoning among the group of people known as Generation Y - usually defined as those between the ages of 11 and 25. This group is ready to resign if their jobs are not fulfilling and fun, with decent holidays and the opportunity to take long stretches off for charity work or travel.

As the Gen Y group go in search of jobs, they have different priorities. They care less about salaries, and more about flexible working, time to travel and a better work-life balance. And employers are leaving no stone unturned in meeting their demands.

"While compensation, career growth, importance of the task performed etc. are important, work life balance assures employees that they will work in a conducive environment. To that extent, work life balance is now becoming a hygiene factor in most organisations," says Sheen Sunny Akkara, executive director, HR, Nielsen India.

"Work life balance today is no longer restricted to work and home. The whole phenomenon of 'my own space' seems to be the flavour of the day especially for Gen Y. Connecting with friends, pursuing hobbies or interests is a top priority. Jobs are one of the many things that Gen Y want to do," notes Rajita Singh, Head - HR, Broadridge India.

According to a recent study by Kelly Services across Asia Pacific including India, work life balance is the single largest contributor to the Gen Y group of employees who are anticipating a change in their career or field in the next five years. Interestingly, on being asked the reason for not having aspirations to advance to an executive position, they again attributed as the impact it would have on their work life balance as the prime reason.

Nielsen India recently launched the Hit F5 initiative to bring in an element of fun and joy at work. These are packaged in an engaging and competitive way – and take place during office hours. As an engagement with the lighter arts, associates from one of their centres have initiated "Radio Friday" – an in-house music and conversation show that takes place every Friday for one hour. It is run by the associates using the office PA system with the music providing a welcome break during work. Associates are also encouraged to approach the designated fun teams, or their seniors with ideas that they feel might contribute to making the working environment even more balanced with the fun factor.

Broadridge believes in providing ample scope for learning, growing and adapting to the changing trends. "Apart from the work life measures such as work from home, flexi timings etc. we have structured workshops such as painting, puppet making, origami, chocolate making and even meditation to help our Gen Y associates pursue their hobbies," adds Singh.

There's little doubt that many employers are likely to find this new species of worker a bit overwhelming. But it is actually a fascinating generation with great potential to change the workplace for the better. Generation Y will eventually have to temper some of its grand expectations, while employers will need to be creative in keeping these clever, valuable young workers engaged and motivated.

According to Vishal Chibber, Director HR, Kelly Services India, the priorities of a Gen Y employee in joining a job are:

• Better work-life balance

• Need for higher income

• Change in personal interests

• Brand image

• Current management issues

- - Sheetal Srivastava