Why You Shouldn't Feel Guilty About Quitting A Job That Feels Too 'Corporate'

When it comes to potential employers, millennials want to know: Do they walk the walk or just talk the talk?

Well, new research says millennials will only be loyal to companies that prove their corporate values align with their own personal beliefs.

Jung Ha-Brookshire, an associate professor of textile and apparel management and associate dean of research and graduate studies in the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences, explained,

[Millennials] have been raised with a sense of pro-social, pro-environment values, and they are looking to be engaged. If they find that a company doesn't honor these values and contributions, many either will try to change the culture or find employment elsewhere.

For the research, Ha-Brookshire and Rachel LoMonaco-Benzing, a doctoral student in the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences, looked at people who worked in the apparel and textile industries.

They found that employees started to disconnect from the company if they noticed it said one thing and did another.

For example, employees became frustrated when the company said it was committed to environmental sustainability but used materials that were not recyclable, didn't dispose of pollutants properly and didn't have healthy factory working conditions.

As a millennial, I'm proud we're looking for more than just a paycheck.

It means we're less likely to throw out our morals for the money.

And if an employee hits a brick wall after trying to speak up and change the culture of the company, it's likely they'll just move on. 

The good news is, companies can use this research to find new ways to change their habits and retain valuable employees.

It's no longer socially acceptable for companies to make decisions solely based on profit.

Basically, millennials are saying, "If I work for a company that has no values, it makes me look as though I have no values. And so, it really matters who I work for."

To make these values more transparent during the interview process, both interviewers and applicants can be clear about what the company's work culture and stance on community issues, including things like sustainability, work-life balance and community partnerships.

Job seekers should also take initiative, communicate with current employees and get the feel for a job and corporate culture before agreeing to work there.

Because if you know it's not a fit, why even bother?

Citations: Values gap in workplace can lead millennials to look elsewhere (Science Daily)