O LinkedIn divulgou o estudo Relacionamentos no Trabalho, que aponta as diferenças de comportamento entre os funcionários no ambiente profissional. Realizada em 14 países, inclusive no Brasil, a pesquisa descobriu diferenças entre a Geração Y (jovens de 18 a 24 anos) e baby boomers (adultos de 55 a 65 anos) em pontos como:
1. Plano de Carreira
– Os dados globais mostram que 68% dos participantes pertencentes à Geração Y estariam dispostos a sacrificar uma amizade com um colega por uma promoção, enquanto 62% dos baby boomers disseram não consideram esta alternativa para subir na hierarquia da empresa;

– Dos países pesquisados, o Brasil é o lugar onde as pessoas são mais leais aos colegas de profissão, sendo que mais da metade desse público (53,6%) afirmou que não arruinaria uma amizade por causa de um cargo corporativo;

– No País, 66% dos baby boomers e apenas 28% da geração Y acreditam que a amizade com colegas de trabalho não afeta seu desempenho profissional.
2. Amizades
– Pouco mais de um terço (35,8%) dos entrevistados no Brasil afirmou que a amizade com colegas de trabalho os motiva;

– Globalmente, a socialização no trabalho é mais importante para a Geração Y do que para os baby boomers. No Brasil, o número é mais equilibrado entre os dois grupos: 56,3% da geração Y e 67,5% dos baby boomers concordam com essa afirmação.
3. Comunicação no Trabalho
– No Brasil, os millenials (54%) discutem mais o salário com colegas do que os baby boomers (33%);

– Os mais jovens também são mais abertos para falar sobre questões pessoais (61,4%) em comparação com os mais velhos (32,5%).

A pesquisa também observou que mais da metade dos brasileiros entrevistados (51,60%) adicionam seu gerente nas redes sociais. No Reino Unido, esse índice cai para 15,20%. E quase 3 em cada 10 (29%) dos brasileiros mantêm contato com o seu gerente fora do horário de expediente para assuntos sem relação com o trabalho.

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Relationships matter because they help us feel connected, making us more motivated and productive. It’s much easier to share feedback with someone if you have built up a solid rapport, or ask someone for advice if you have invested in the relationship. We’re also seeing a shift in how personal these relationships get: 67% of millennials are likely to share personal details including salary, relationships and family issues with co-workers, compared to only about one third of baby boomers. I come from the generation where it is taboo to talk about salary, but knowing that this is changing, I won’t be so taken aback if a fellow co-worker starts dishing details on their personal life to me!

With this shift towards the more personal, millennials are also comfortable casually communicating with their managers outside of the office. The study found that one in three (28%) millennials have texted a manager out of work hours for a non-work related issue, compared to only 10% of baby boomers. I’m not suggesting we all start texting our managers at any hour about our latest crush or favorite new shirt, but it does indicate that our growing workforce wants to have more of a connection. If the super-personal makes you uncomfortable, here are some suggestions to make your millennial workforce feel connected:

  • Don’t limit conversations to only email or formal meetings. Take a walking meeting! Walking meetings are part of LinkedIn’s culture, and they are popular because people tend to relax during a walk, which allows for a more open and creative discussion. Plus, not having a phone or computer interrupt you every second, allows you to be more focused on the person you are talking to, and ultimately more connected.
  • Take an interest in the personal. While you may not want to give relationship advice, you should have an interest in your teammates as people. Take a few minutes during every one-on-one meeting to connect on a personal level. If your colleague always jets out with their yoga mat, ask them about it! Work is only a part of who we are; if you get to know people’s other passions, it may give you a glimpse into what motivates them.
  • Congratulate, share and like! A simple gesture on LinkedIn can do wonders for employee morale. Think how great it feels to get “a job well-done” email from your boss, and then imagine having the same recognition shared with your network. It feels great to get acknowledged for your hard work, and by sharing it publicly, you also help to build your professional brand.

It goes without saying that relationships with your current colleagues are just as important to maintain as your former colleagues. Your paths will cross again. While you may not see them every day in the break room, you can easily stay up-to-date on their professional wins on LinkedIn and celebrate their success by sharing it with your network.