millennials and workplace safety

Soliciting regular feedback through surveys and open forums ensures that safety strategies evolve in line with employee insights and expectations. In today’s dynamic workplace environment, safety isn’t just about physical protection—it’s an evolving paradigm that spans transparency, technology, and well-being. As Millennials and Gen Z steadily become the majority cohort within the workforce, understanding their nuanced expectations is paramount to creating more effective and inclusive safety strategies.

  • The rise of wellness-focused travel will be another enduring hallmark of millennial priorities this year.
  • Additionally, the use of technology has become increasingly prevalent in promoting occupational health and safety in today’s world.
  • This generation is digital natives, and they understand the power of technology to drive change.
  • They expect there to be an outlined way to approach each task at work, and this can be a huge benefit for jobs requiring strict adherence to safety protocols.
  • Smart employers are moving to entertaining online videos for basic instruction.
  • According to the survey, 51 percent of businesses do not employ a dedicated safety professional.

Safety Management – now easy and efficient!

This generation is digital natives, and they understand the power of technology to drive change. This type of software helps to ensure that everyone in the workplace is aware of the importance of safety and that everyone is following the same protocols to keep themselves and their coworkers safe. Unlike the baby boomers, the millennial generation is inherently familiar with social media and other digital tools. You can leverage these skills by adding low-cost but highly effective programs to engage this workforce on these platforms. For example, you could use instant messaging, email, or social tools to promote worker safety.

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  • Managers and supervisors have probably noticed a generation gap when it comes to tolerating risk in the workplace.
  • There were differences between me and my father, and me and my children.
  • Bridget Womack is a safety engineer with Mortenson Construction at a battery storage facility in California.
  • With easy-to-follow instructions and real-world examples, “Safetyology” can help you create a safer workplace for your employees, reduce accidents and injuries, and improve your bottom line.
  • This transparency extends to sharing previously guarded information such as salaries.
  • Having the advice of an agent or broker could be beneficial for most business owners, no matter how savvy their understanding of newer technologies.
  • 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.

For example, the American millennials and workplace safety Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) is the largest U.S. With growing Millennial enthusiasm for PWFA laws, how many times has the word “pregnant” appeared in PS’s monthly publications? ASSP’s industrial hygiene counterpart, AIHA, fares no better, from my observations.

These generations leverage community connections for support, thriving in settings where peer networks bolster emotional resilience and a sense of belonging. Millennials and Gen Z must feel empowered to express ideas without fear, cultivating a culture where vulnerability is seen as strength. Additionally, no one should still be doing all their training in one sitting.

millennials and workplace safety

Millennials are looking for evidence that companies are committed to safety. They want clear evidence that their company has a culture of safety, and want to know what their employer is doing to keep them safe. This translates into new methods of communication and engagement building designed to meet these workers where they are. In-person training can follow video-based training, and lessons can be individualized by role and employees.

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millennials and workplace safety

“We’re seeing more and more of our travelers recognize that getting enough sleep allows them to fully enjoy and engage with their travel experiences.” “Millennials are prioritizing self-care and are more willing than ever to invest in their mental health and overall wellness,” Ramos said. “These curated getaways combine relaxation, mindfulness, and community, which are all things millennials crave.” For international travel, many millennials are opting to join group tours designed specifically for solo travelers as a way to connect with like-minded people and find connection while traveling abroad. This desire for meaningful engagement often involves activities that immerse travelers in local traditions. Duncan Greenfield-Turk, the CEO of Global Travel Moments, told Newsweek that millennials continue to seek “real connections,” whether through culinary excursions, cultural seminars or outdoor activities.

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Employers with an ageing workforce should develop targeted risk management programs to reduce the risk of injury in older workers. In developing your risk management program, we put together some of the key risk factors you should consider, and tips for how they can be best managed here. Baby Boomers and Generation X, on the other hand, prefer more traditional classroom or paper-based training. Given the difference between generations, it’s easy to see how a one size fits all approach is not beneficial when designing training material. Baby Boomers are the OHS veterans that bank on their experience to navigate through any circumstances. While some of their processes seem outdated, Boomers play by the book, literally memorizing and sticking to OSHA regulations.

Ideas for involving employees in the safety process

This creates a serious problem for companies that require safety training. Millennials want evidence that their company is committed to and has a culture of safety. While boomers may long for the yellow pencil with an eraser, social media is second nature to millennials. Use it to attract new employees and engage current millennials while you have them. Both physical health and mental wellbeing are integral to workplace safety and should be prioritised by employers. Worryingly, 68% of Gen Z and younger Millennial employees report feeling stressed much of the time, according to a recent survey by Gallup.

Jumpstart Your Learning

Psychological safety—defined as the ability to speak up without fear of retribution or ridicule—is now a fundamental component of a healthy work culture. For younger generations, being heard and feeling valued is just as crucial as wearing the correct safety equipment. Employees who do not fear the failure or negative consequences of voicing their opinion are more than likely to be more forward-thinking, driving innovation.

The low-hanging fruit in this case is the easiest and most obvious safety actions to progress or achieve minor success within a workplace’s culture while negating the focus or expense of the more important initiatives. While no one generation is the perfect fit for a particular role, millennials bring unique skills and perspectives that can help drive progress and innovation in this critical area. The survey underscores that every generation—Generation Z (25%) Millennials (38%), Generation X (20%), and Baby Boomers (10%)—is affected in different ways, depending on their career stage and their roles. Learn how Marsh McLennan successfully boosts staff well-being with digital tools, improving productivity and work satisfaction for more than 20,000 employees. When assigning teams to work on projects, mix and match employees of different ages, ensuring that both new and long-tenured employees have a voice and feel comfortable sharing their viewpoints. It’s not surprising that the older generations are more comfortable with the communication methods—phone calls and in-person meetings—that were common during most of their careers.

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