Managing Multi-Generational Communication in the Workplace

Gen Zers, meanwhile, had access to technologies and social media during their early years and are generally quite tech savvy. Taking the time to update the course material and graphics that go along with it will create a safety training program that millennials can connect to and learn from. Tactics like this will be far more effective than showing the same old safety manuals or videos that you’ve been using in your company for the past 30 years. In order to engage employees, and implement safety training that millennials will respond to, the use of advanced multimedia platforms is imperative.

What Is Actually Different for Younger Workers

A difference, though, is that younger people haven’t known it any other way, he noted. With social media really kicking off in the early noughties, it’s been a constant presence in the lives of most Millennials. Understanding what each generation brings to the workplace can help safety pros gain an appreciation for everyone’s unique contributions. “When I started my job, I had a pager, I had a clipboard and I had to use a pay phone,” Heinlein said. The way workers prefer to be recognized for a job done well – and safely – may depend largely on the generation to which they belong. If the training content is long and tedious, they will not retain it for long.

Psychological Safety

Provide training on effective communication across generations, especially for people leaders. Establish clear guidelines and expectations for communication channels and response times. For example, research shows that the older generations in the workplace prefer meetings and phone calls, while the younger generations tend to favor instant messaging. Older workers are more accustomed to formal communications, while younger employees communicate in shorter, more casual bursts. Have strategies in place to ensure your people are provided with constant opportunities for development.

As previously mentioned, technology is a key tool that millennials rely heavily on to revamp OHS.
Among 18- to 21-year-olds today, 58 percent were employed during the prior calendar year.
Increased claims, inaccurate property valuations and other challenges have caused insurers to tighten their books in recent years.
Nostalgia is driving a unique segment of millennial travel in 2025, Daniel Batchelor, the vice president of global corporate marketing and communications at Amadeus, told Newsweek.
Workplace safety will also improve when employers create and maintain cultures that make people want to stay.
A strong safety culture fosters open communication, encourages reporting of near-misses, and prioritises the wellbeing of all employees.

How Millennials Are Changing Approaches to Workplace Safety

With the commercial insurance market so unstable, companies are turning to captives to house their exposures. Vermont, a long-time domicile, is getting increased attention because of their strong reputation and their leadership as the top domicile worldwide. According to Pew Research, millennials are currently the largest generation in the U.S labor force, representing over 35% of all workers in the United States. Unsurprisingly, millennials have a different work style than their predecessors, and companies across the country are having to adapt accordingly. Employers should recognise that different demographics have different needs.

Before we get into ways to provide millennials workplace safety training that may be required by your business, it’s important to understand who this generation is made of, and how they like to work. For starters, while no exact date range exists, leading researchers define millennials as any individual born between the years of 1981 and 1996. The fact that millennials are having conversations about workplace safety and it is such a concern to them is beneficial to all employees. While some older workers who have been working behind a desk for 25 years might scoff at the notion of “safety training,” in today’s world you simply cannot afford to ignore the risks. Use this new energy and commitment to your advantage, stay updated on trends in the field, and develop a culture of safety that works for everyone.

Columbia Southern University utilizes various forms of automated technology communication with students.
For more information on millennials in the workplace and to read the rest of this article from Columbia Southern University, go here.
However, studies show that when an older worker does get injured, their injuries are often more severe, with longer recovery times.
The more changes you make now, the less you’ll have to make down the road.
For millennials, this offers the immediacy they demand while cutting out potentially unnecessary trips to the ER, a specialist, or physical therapy.

The use of advanced multimedia resources makes it easier for employees to absorb and be able to recall information. Rather than the outdated method of bringing employees into training workshops, why not bring the training to them? Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 80% of millennials sleep with their cellphones beside them. Joshua Martyn was a content manager at Safetymint, crafting helpful contents that enlighten readers and EHS professionals alike, about fresh trends, technologies and perspectives from the world of safety. Gen X and Y share similar characteristics in the way they are result-oriented and don’t mind achieving a goal independently to move up the corporate ladder. Although they can be cynical and resistant to authority, their prowess in following safety practices stems from their work-life balance that is very family and life-focused.

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Gen Z are particularly protective of their mental health at work and seek employers who respect this. Employers who provide resources for maintaining good health and offer support for issues like stress management and work-life balance will benefit from safer workplaces and more loyal employees. In conclusion, millennials are making a big impact on the field of occupational health and safety. With their focus on safety as a core value, innovative approach to leadership, and utilization of technology, this generation is well positioned to shape the future of workplace safety. Whether you’re a millennial or a seasoned professional, it’s clear that this generation is having a major impact and will continue to drive progress in the field for years to come.

Risk Central

Telemedicine brings a clinician directly to the site of a workplace injury as quickly as you can dial up a connection. How can companies take steps to mitigate risks for their millennial millennials and workplace safety workforce? Adjusting safety policies and adopting new technology tools could make all the difference.

Establishing a Strong Safety Culture: Challenges and Solutions

Effective communication is especially important because communication directly impacts how people learn, collaborate, and respond to performance management. However, much like the sweeping societal changes driven by this first generation of digital natives, organisations, too, are faced with adapting to new behaviours and ways of working. When asked about the most important way to close the potential skills gap, business leaders in PwC’s 22nd CEO Survey flagged ‘retraining and upskilling’. Millennials are constantly seeking opportunities to grow — presenting an opportunity for organisations to find the right resources from within. Globally, CEOs say ‘significant retraining and upskilling’ is the answer to closing the skills gap. This presents great opportunity for the employee to grow in order to help the organisation reach its potential, and the business to invest in the employee’s long-term career goals by enabling training.