"Younger Job Applicants Want More Paid Time Off" is the title of an article in today's e-newsletter from ERC (which I think stands for Employer's Resource Council, but I'm not sure!). From their website: "ERC is Northeast Ohio's largest organization dedicated to HR and workplace programs, practices, training and consulting."

According to the article, a survey of 70 NEO employers found that job seekers in their 20s are requesting, on average, 2.5 weeks of paid vacation per year. Older, more experienced workers in their 30s and 40s request, on average, 3 weeks of paid vacation per year. Those same employers, on average, offer their least experienced applicants only one week of paid vacation annually. The statistic that I'd like to see is: What percentage of the companies offering one week of vacation are having a hard time attracting and retaining talent? I'd imagine that percentage is pretty high. Is a shortage of vacation time (or paid time off) a dealbreaker? I have to think that for most YPs, it is.

The article closes with a quote from Tom Tomasula, Senior HR Consultant at ERC, “Paid time off is a great way for companies to differentiate themselves, especially for a new generation of employees that are demonstrating a commitment to working hard as well as enjoying their free time.” Are you listening, employers? Next generation employees work hard AND play hard. Want to attract and retain more young talent? Might be time to revise your company's paid time off policies.