Millennials would go as far as declining a job offer if the company wasn’t environmentally friendly.
January 10, 2017. Can a company’s core values and work perks be a deciding factor for Millennials when choosing a job? Some employers might be surprised to hear that they certainly can be, according to research released by Bevi, a smart water cooler that offers a more fun, personalized and eco-friendly way of drinking water at the office.
In fact, 1 in 11 Millennials would go so far as to decline a job offer if the perspective company was not environmentally friendly, and more than one in 20 would accept a smaller salary for added perks at the office, highlighting the crucial significance of workplace perks for Millennials. Additionally, despite conventional wisdom that office happiness is a direct result of the people and culture, nearly one in eight Millennials revealed workplace perks are more important to them than being friends with coworkers.
Employers are taking note of these shifting demands and catering to the needs of today’s workforce by providing more creative and unique benefits to lure and retain top talent. Yet, despite the endless and expensive race for workplace perks, it seems to be the simplest perks that make employees the happiest at the office.
“From table tennis and catered lunches to unlimited vacation days, companies, both large and small, are looking for new and innovative ways to keep employees engaged and happy at work. But, it’s not just about the latest and greatest perks, it’s about knowing how to invest in the perks that matter most. Our research shows that Millennials are willing to work longer and harder for the right work perks that will ultimately make them happier at the office,” said Sean Grundy, Co-Founder and CEO of Bevi.
The study, conducted with third party research firm YouGov, revealed when it comes to employee perks, few things are as satisfying as free food and drinks, with over one third of American Millennials revealing they would be happier at their job if this was provided to them.
Happy & hydrating employees are productive employees
- 14% increased overall productivity by drinking an adequate amount of water.
- 1 in 4 Millennials don’t think they drink enough water while at the office.
- 1 in 5 Millennials consume mainly coffee and/or soda while at the office.
- 1 in 5 said they would drink more water at work if different options were available.
As simpel as providing free food & drink
- 39% would be happier at work with free food and drink
- 1 in 5 would work harder if free food and drinks were available
- 1 in 4 would work longer hours if they received free food and drinks
- 1 in 14 would decline a job offer if the company didn’t have healthy beverage options in the workplace
The sustainability factor is make or break
- 25% of Millennials reported that having a sustainability initiative at their workplace is important
- 1 in 7 are embarrassed by the lack of sustainable initiatives at their workplace
- 1 in 4 would rather work longer days than work for a non-sustainable company
- 1 in 5 feel guilty about drinking from cans or plastic bottles at work without reusing them
- 1 in 12 would decline a job offer if the company weren’t environmentally friendly
Additional key findings include…
Happy employees are productive employees and previous research by University of East London supports this view revealing drinking an adequate amount of water can increase overall productivity by up to 14 percent. In fact, according Bevi’s research, one in ten Millennials wouldn’t work somewhere that didn’t have free water options available. It is likely that their desire for more free water options at work is linked to their current water intake, as one in four Millennials don’t believe they drink enough water while at the office due to consuming primarily coffee and/or soda at work. These dehydrating liquids can cause more harm than good, demonstrating the need for healthier and hydrating beverage options at the office.
Workplace perks are key deciding factors for employees when choosing a job, but it’s as simple as providing healthy beverage options at the office. In fact, one in 14 Millennials would go as far as declining a job offer if the company didn’t have healthy beverage options at work.
Even at a company with unlimited vacation, it’s hard to compete with the daily joy and satisfaction that something as simple as healthy food and beverages can bring to employees. When faced with a choice, one in eight Millennials would choose health and wellness perks in comparison to additional paid vacation days, revealing the significance something as simple as healthy food and beverage options holds for today’s workforce.
Despite some of the demands we’re seeing from today’s Millennials, they are willing to work for what they want with one in four Millennials revealing they would work longer hours if their company provided free food and drinks.
Sustainability in the workplace
A lack of healthy food and beverage options in the office is not the only factors keeping perspective employees from accepting a job nowadays. With almost half of the workforce looking to work for a company making a positive impact, it makes sense that one in 12 Millennials have actually chosen a job based on how sustainable the company is signaling the need for more eco-friendly options in the workplace. When it comes to waste, corporate America is one of the biggest offenders in the U.S., producing 4.3 pounds of waste per person daily.
Despite this lack of sustainability seen in corporate offices across America, Millennials do want to work for environmentally friendly companies. In fact, one in five feel guilty about drinking from cans or plastic bottles at work without reusing them and one in seven are actually embarrassed by the lack of sustainability initiatives at their workplace. With 89 percent of Millennials revealing they have more eco-friendly habits at home than at work, it’s evident sustainability is another important part of many Millennials’ lives and lifestyles that they want to be able to carry with them into the workplace.
“We are witnessing more Millennials committed to sustainable principles than previous generations, and companies can no longer ignore the eco-friendly shift in employee demands. Corporate America is entering a pivotal moment where the failure to keep up with these shifting demands could result in a loss of talent that companies are looking to attract and retain, ultimately closing themselves off to over two-thirds of the talent pool.”
Sean Grundy, Co-Founder & CEO of Bevi
Research methodology
Bevi commissioned YouGov PLC—a third party, professional research and consulting organization—to poll the views of a representative sample of 2,450 Americans. Fieldwork was undertaken between December 14 and 15, 2016. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).
About Bevi
Founded in 2013, Bevi is a smart water cooler that is becoming a fast favorite amongst employees and companies nationwide by offering a more fun, personalized and eco-friendly way of drinking still and sparkling flavored water. Born from its sustainable vision to eliminate plastic bottles, Bevi’s intuitive design combined with its on demand technology aims to disrupt the way we drink water, making the experience more satisfying while simultaneously addressing a substantial environmental issue.
Headquartered in Boston, Bevi is always creating innovative, new and natural flavors that range from unsweetened lime mint to orange mango and blueberry cucumber. Aimed to inspire behavioral change in the workplace, Bevi encourages employees to choose a more sustainable and healthy refreshment.
>> Looking for more information on Bevi’s Smart Water Cooler® machines? Click here!
Ryan Daly
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