retain millennial employees with a workplace app · millennial employees often feel disengaged from...

Retain Millennial Employees with a Workplace App 1

R E TA I N M I L L E N N I A L E M P LOY E E S W I T H

A WO R K P L AC E A P P


Introduction 3

The Engagement Dilemma 4

Why Mobile? 6

Creating a Workplace App for Employee Engagement 7

Conclusion 9

About Modo Labs 10

TA B L E O F C O N T E N TS


Millennials are the largest living generation in the American workforce.1 In 2015 they surpassed Baby Boomers, standing at an impressive 75.4 million; and by 2036 they’re projected to reach an extraordinary 81.1 million.

Today, this younger generation is growing to become a dominant portion of many organizations. Their presence in the workplace, however, isn’t valued for their sheer numbers alone; they are also appreciated for their unique characteristics. Millennials are educated, ambitious, inquisitive, and technologically savvy. However, employers are facing a dilemma in hiring this generation: They are struggling to keep these workers on board for the longer term.

1 http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/25/millennials-overtake-baby-boomers/

I N T R O D U C T I O N


Millennial employees often feel disengaged from the workplace. In fact, according to the Deloitte Millennial Survey 2016², two out of three plan to leave their jobs by 2020. This leaves many employers to wonder, “What’s contributing to their lack of engagement?” To comprehend why they are leaving, organizations must understand what drives their millennial employees. The Deloitte survey revealed that millennials crave the opportunity to grow their leadership skills, and that the opportunity to do so has a significant influence on their loyalty to their employers. Seventy-one percent of those who were unhappy with how these skills were progressing planned to leave their job in the next two years. On the other hand, employees who intended to stay longer term felt that there was support and encouragement to grow within their companies.

2 https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/About-Deloitte/gx-milleni al-survey-2016-exec-summary.pdf

T H E E N GAG E M E N T D I L E M M A

7 1 %Seventy-one percent of those unhappy with how their skills are progressing plan to leave their jobs in the next two years.

It was also discovered that millennials are primarily driven by personal values in the decision-making process, more so than their goals and ambitions or the impact on clients.


Further survey findings indicated that employees stay at their jobs longer when they feel there is open communication, a culture of support and tolerance, a sense of purpose, and encouragement of ideas.

To truly connect with millennials and meet their needs, employers must look beyond traditional incentives, like salaries and company amenities, and focus on the issues that matter most to their workers. A mobile app is a practical and effective vehicle to help you keep your workers motivated and engaged.

A mobile app is a practical and effective vehicle to help you keep your workers motivated and engaged.


Much of the millennials generation are mobile adopters, having grown up with digital technology at their disposal. According to a 2016 Neilson article, a whopping 98% of millennials age 18-24 own a smartphone while 97% of millennials age 25-34 own these devices3.

From wayfinding to content consumption, smartphones have become an integral part of how millennials spend their personal time. Today, the generation expects to use these devices in the workplace as well.

PwC report, “Millennials at Work: Reshaping the Workplace3,” found that millennials have certain expectations of technology in the workplace:

• 59% said state-of-the art technology was important to them when considering a job

• 78% stated access to the technology they like to use makes them more effective workers

• 41% expressed preference for electronic communication over face-to-face conversations or the telephone

As a result, more organizations are shaping their IT policies to meet the needs of millennials.

3 http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2016/millennials-are-top-smartphone-users.html4 https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/managing-tomorrows-people/future-of-work/assets/reshap ing-the-workplace.pdf

W H Y M O B I L E ?


A workplace app is an effective way to keep millennial employees engaged, communicate opportunities, and enhance your company’s brand and culture.

As you create your workplace app, the following considerations are recommended to break the trend of employee disengagement:

C R E AT I N G A WO R K P L AC E A P P F O R E M P LOY E E E N GAG E M E N T

1. Include opportunities for internal advancement. Upward mobility is important to millennials, and a workplace app can be their hub to discover ways to grow within your organization.

Share information about lunch-and-learn events and training programs. Also provide resources to help your workers grow their skills to advance within your company.

Furthermore, your app can inform employees about new job opportunities. By including an in-app form, employees can easily submit resumes and cover letters without the need to visit third-party job websites. (It’s better to direct millennials to jobs within your company rather than lose them external opportunities!)

2. Create company transparency. A workplace app keeps employees fully informed of important company information.

Consider a regular content series, like videos and interviews from leadership, which can be easily accessed from within your app. Also include company news feeds, social media feeds, and essential HR information.

3. Deliver relevant communications. Push notifications and in-app banners are yet another way to help employees feel


they’re in the loop around company happenings. For instance, send reminders about HR deadlines or company programs and events. Not only should you send timely communications but contextual ones as well. For instance, If employees are within proximity of the company fitness center, send a reminder about an upcoming meditation workshop.

4. Provide two-way communications. Communication tools like push notifications and in-app banners keeps employees in-the-know and up to date on timely information. But sending your staff these messages is only the first step in a mobile communication strategy.

Providing employees ways to connect and share their feedback is equally important. Third-party apps such as Slack and Yammer can be integrated within your workplace app to connect employees with their peers. Additionally, in-app forms and surveys can solicit employee input.

5. Share unique opportunities. Young people want to have an impact on the world, from helping underprivileged students to saving the environment. Showcasing your company’s socially-responsible efforts and volunteer opportunities help millennials envision how they can experience personal growth and change the world directly through your organization.

6. Promote diversity and inclusion. Millennials are one for the most diverse generations. Highlighting mentoring programs, community partnerships, and messages from leadership demonstrate your commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. You may even consider creating a dedicated app for your diversity or HR department.


Millennials are a valuable component of the workforce, in both numbers and impact. Engaging them with your organization is a crucial initiative to decrease turnover and keep your business running smoothly.

With a mobile app as your supporting vehicle, you can improve communications, position your brand in a meaningful way, and provide your employees with the knowledge and tools they need to flourish and grow within your organization.

Are you ready to transform your workplace? Contact us today to learn how Modo Labs can help your company reconnect with your workforce.

C O N C LU S I O N

Trusted by hundreds of universities and companies in over 30 countries, Modo Labs offers an enterprise-scale mobile engagement and communication platform. Regardless of technical skill set, Modo users can quickly create a powerful and sophisticated mobile app experience that connects audiences with essential information when they need it, where they need it.

To learn more, visit https://www.modolabs.com/

A B O U T M O D O L A B S