BY RICHARD HIGGINSON

THE workplace is changing. We live in an ‘always on’ working society connected by phones, tablets, laptops.

The boundary between the working day and social time is blurred.

New words are creeping into the workplace vocabulary like agile, remote, collaborative – the rules of the working environment are changing fast.

In most cases, the change has evolved due to millennials in the workplace.

Anyone born circa 1986 fits in the millennial bracket. A different approach to work, ethics and looking for additional incentives from employees other than the traditional monetary reward method.

Modern workers are expressive and creative, there is a big focus on social good, CSR and community sits at the heart of the millennial worker. Businesses are redefining their social remit in response.

The rise of free fruit, thinking rooms, quiet zones, stand up meetings, bean bags, astro turf on the office floor and a bike hung on a wall – office environments are changing to the needs and expectations of the modern worker.

Cast our minds back 10 – 15 years where a suit and tie was a mandatory in the office environment – modern office attire is more relaxed in tune with the less formal and social approach to work. Productivity in most cases remains the same or higher as companies dial into maximising output from the workforce. Dress down Friday has become dress down anyday.

Communication is still key regardless of your organisation or company size. The modern day workforce are connected 24/7.

They thrive off social media and online content. They now have more ‘friends’ than ever before who ‘like’ what they do, see, eat or think.

Be mindful of how to communicate with millennials in the workplace – grow a supportive culture and the magic will happen.