From Gen Y Women to Employers: What They Want in the Workplace and Why It Matters for Business Research On Career Choices, Challenges And Opportunities Copyright © 2011

Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © BPW Foundation’s Report From Gen Y Women to Employers: What They Want and Why it Matters for Business explores young working women’s perspectives and experiences. The report is based on an online survey of 662 Gen Y (born ) women from across the United States conducted in May Four thematic areas are explored in the report: workplace values, work-life balance, gender in the workplace and intergenerational workplace dynamics. 2Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

Gen Y Women on Workplace Values Copyright © 2011

Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © Gen Y women hold work in high regard. Almost three-quarters of Gen Y women believe that work can be enjoyable and meaningful. 4Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

5 Gen Y women hold disparate career values. Career values varied by occupation, employer type and presence of children. Overall, the top five reported values were: 1.Achievement: satisfaction acquired through accomplishment of goals within the organization (50%) 2.Growth: satisfaction achieved through personal and/or organization growth (48%) 3.Altruism: satisfaction achieved by helping others and society (43%) 4.Creativity: satisfaction achieved by the development of innovative ideas, programs, publications, etc. (41%) 5.Compensation: satisfaction achieved through financial gain (39%) 5Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

6 Health insurance, paid leave and retirement plans are the benefits that matter most. The five benefits that Gen Y women ranked as very important were health insurance (74%) paid leave (57%) retirement (46%) professional development (45%) dental insurance (42%). 6Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

7 New challenges and increased pay motivate Gen Y women most. Overall, the top five motivating factors reported were: new challenges (65%) increased pay (60%) increased responsibility (47%) a simple “thank you” (46%) promotion (42%). 7Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

8 Understanding goals and expectations along with open communication channels enable Gen Y women to do their best at work. 8Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

Gen Y Women on Work-Life Balance Copyright © 2011

Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © Gen Y women equally value work-life balance but understand it in different ways. Work-life balance is very important or important for 96%! of Gen Y women. More than 50% of Gen Y women defined work-life balance as integrating work and life, 25% as clearly demarcated lines between work and life, and 18% as matching today’s workplace with today’s workforce. 10Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

11 Family is more important to Gen Y women than work. For 74% of Gen Y women, family is very important. Work is important to 62% of Gen Y women. Hobbies were also rated important by 50% of Gen Y women. The importance placed on work did not differ between women with and without children. 11Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

12 Lack of a formal organizational policy or program is the top challenge for Gen Y women trying to achieve work- life balance. 12Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

13 Gen Y women want work-life balance programs that address when, where and how work is done. 13Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

Gen Y Women on Gender in the Workplace Copyright © 2011

Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © Gen Y women say gender discrimination is still a problem in today’s workplace. More than 75% of Gen Y women report gender discrimination as a moderate or severe problem in today’s workplace. Only 3% indicated that gender discrimination is not a problem. Almost 50% of Gen Y women have observed or experienced gender discrimination in the workplace. 15 Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

16 Gen Y women reported both explicit and hidden forms of gender discrimination in the workplace. 16 Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

Gen Y Women on Intergenerational Workplace Dynamics Copyright © 2011

Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © Generational diversity is important to the majority of Gen Y women. Almost two-thirds (64%) report generational diversity as either very important or important. Gen Y women perceive sharing of professional experiences (80%) and different perspectives (75%) as the primary advantages of a multi-generational workplace. Opportunities for mentoring/coaching (63%) was cited by Gen Y women as a primary benefit of a multi-generational workplace. 18Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

19 More than 50% of Gen Y women believe that generational conflict is a moderate or severe problem in today’s workplace. 19Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

20 Gen Y women encounter more age bias than generational conflict. The types of conflict Gen Y women reported reflected clashes with colleagues’ perceptions of age, such as: –“Too young” bias, being perceived as incompetent and inexperience because of age –Name calling such as “kid” and “girl” –Inequality of opportunities, being passed over because of age –Inequality of workload, being given heavier workloads because of age and lack of “family responsibilities” 20Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

21 Differences in communication style are reported as the main source of generational conflict. 21Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

22 Key Research Implications Addressing Gen Y women’s workplace challenges is a business imperative. Identifying Gen Y women’s workplace challenges and opportunities requires examining dimensions of social difference. Meeting Gen Y women’s demand for work-life balance requires more than a programmatic response. Enabling Gen Y women to do their work requires identifying and addressing how gender and age shape their workplace experiences. 22Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

23 Key Employer Applications Check your assumptions. Address the sources not just the symptoms. Measure your success. 23Young Careerist | Business and Professional Women’s Foundation | © 2011

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