Reengineering Gen Y, good or bad?

Singapore - Changing a generation Y's characteristics to suit the organisation is easier said than done. Often it is more feasible to re-adapt the workplace environment instead, say senior HR leaders.

Speaking at the business forum jointly hosted by Temasek Polytechnic Business School and Kelly Services last week, Juliana Ang, business HR director for Philips Electronics Singapore says there will always be newer generations with different characteristics entering the workforce.  Hence, management challenges will never cease to exist.

Furthermore, the environment the millennials grew up in has made it doubly hard for HR to be the parent figure and redevelop these millennials' characters to suit the organisation.

Ang says, "It is a tall order. They are somehow wired like that. I would rather teach managers to coach in a different way."

Explaining her coaching methods, Ang says she has to sit in with her line managers to explain the differences a generation Y brings to the workforce. "I have to explain ‘no, he is not trying to be funny or difficult. It is just him'."

Ang further advocates patience for HR, as they are usually the person in between generational conflicts. "We play that crucial role of being the glue to put the two together to help them understand each other."

For Molly Yeo, head of human resources, ABN Amro, Singapore, the unique mindset generation Ys possess will only add value to the organisation. "I don't think we should stifle that. They bring a very refreshing perspective to the workforce and the workforce needs different types of people."

Senior HR director of Kelly Services Asia Pacific, Jonas Ang says making an effort to understand generation Ys will benefit both employer and worker in the long run.  "There is no 'one size fits all' for the company. If we are able to customise solutions, be flexible and accommodate when we can, that would go a very long way."

"We need to be ready to change ourselves before we can compel the rest, especially Gen Ys, to change," he adds.