Millenials experiences of meaningful and engaging work – a study conducted at Finnish ICT and Social- and Health Care organizations

Abstract

The social- and health care and the ICT-sectors will within the next 15 years have a shortage in staff. The retention is a problem among millennials. It is important to study how to engage recently graduated employees at work. The article aims at answering questions related to meaningfulness at work for millennials through adapted approaches involving Appreciative Inquiry and Autophotography. The research involves 20 recently graduated from five related organizations. The results indicate that psychological safety, values, appreciation, self fulfilment and growth seem to create meaningfulness and construct drivers to hinder retainment and enhance engagement. Collegial support was valued, and interest was expressed in getting to know your peers also through after work, in order to collaborate better. For millennials meaningful work is a value of importance. Learning at work was not only seen as a prerequisite for development, but also as an appreciated priviledge.