“If we’re destroying our trees and destroying our environment and hurting animals and hurting one another and all that stuff, there’s got to be a very powerful energy to fight that. I think we need more love in the world. We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute to that.” – Ellen DeGeneres

Millennials are overwhelmingly concerned with the environment and social causes. Noted to be the most civic-minded generation since the Greatest Generation (those born between 1910-1925), they have strong opinions on the sustainability of our societies and natural resources.

As fresh graduates enter our office doors, they are compelled to participate in activities that contribute to the preservation of our environment and closing the income gap in the workplace. They are attracted to companies that have an indoctrinated corporate responsibility for social causes. With the heightened interest in these causes, the following statistics aren’t that astounding. The surprising factor for some Baby Boomers, however, is the sheer Millennial accountability for these hot issues in the first place.

Millennials share our concern for environmental preservation. We are focused on creating environmental sustainability by eliminating the need for travel and reducing the mounds of paper generated during the entire hiring process. The Clinton Global Initiative University released a survey in March delineating the Millennial concern for the global community. Of those polled, education, economy, and human rights were of the utmost concern this year. 62% of respondents said they feel their generation is “better equipped to handle the greatest issues facing society.” Furthermore, 79% said they are “optimistic about the direction of their local community.” When those entering the workforce today are the leaders of tomorrow, we’ll see increased dedication to sustainable initiatives and scalable technology.

“Business as usual is changing. While once companies saw sustainability issues as risks to be managed, many now also see sustainability as a source of innovation that drives growth and profitability.” – The Value Driver Model: A tool for communicating the business value of sustainability

Companies that use resource-saving technology attract these young job seekers.  Corporate social responsibility is a key factor in attracting and ultimately retaining Millennials. The generation as a whole has a lower turnover rate than the generations preceding them. After the recession, only 35% of Millennials changed jobs each year – a 25% decrease since 1980.  The 20-somethings remain loyal to organizations that are dedicated to sustaining environmental preservation. Companies looking to attract these types of candidates should invest in a CSR program and put significant effort behind its communication and implementation.

Last year, Pew Research Center found that 75% of Millennial women and 57% of Millennial men said that more changes are needed to bridge the gender gap in compensation. Furthermore, 60% of Millennial women and 48% of Millennial men say that women do the same amount of work, yet still get paid less than their male counterparts. Despite the fact that there is a greater awareness now than 20 or even 30 years ago, there is still much to be done about the disparity in male to female pay in the workplace. Karen Wimbish, Director of Retail Retirement at Wells Fargo Bank, said:

“I thought that if ever there was a group that would have some parity of income, it would be this one.”

Unfortunately, evidence says otherwise. Although Millennials want to create and sustain equal pay in the workplace, the Millennial man makes about 27 cents per hour more than the Millennial female. That equates to about $77,000 per year for men and $56,000 for women. This gap is slightly wider than the national average. The national average differs by industry and state; 11 states have equal pay legislation that was introduced in 2013. By implementing fair interviewing practices and committing to compensation parity within your workplace, you can make your workplace a leader in this area (and do the right thing to boot!)

Millennials share the same concern for sustaining environmental and corporate health. Companies who foster a sense of corporate responsibility for social and natural sustainability attract fresh college graduates. Millennials, despite the uphill battle against them, strive towards an increase in technology as to reduce the use of natural resources. Because they are the most civic-minded generation since their grandparents and great-grandparents, they are interested in fixing the gender compensation gap. 

Bio: Julie Salerno, VP Sales

Julie Salerno provides guidance and leadership to GreenJobInterview’s sales team and is responsible for the ongoing growth of the company’s revenues and profitability. She is involved in strategic planning, helping to managing the company’s resources, and improving its business processes.

Previously, she served as a partner and senior executive recruiter at Personnel Strategies, Inc.

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