Study: Gen Y deems social media at work more important than pay

Generation Y has grown in soil watered by the ubiquitous presence of the Internet and social media. It seems only natural that the bond would follow the generation into the workplace, sometimes at the objections of employers. A new survey by computer networking company Cisco Systems Inc. shows that these “digital natives” are willing to sacrifice higher pay for social media access at work.

Paying for Facebook time

The results of the Cisco survey have surprised many employment experts, reports CBS News. Willingly sacrificing hard cash during a weak economy in order to keep up with Facebook and other social media may seem absurd to some, but Cisco says the survey results should serve as a wake-up call to companies attempting to attract and retain young workers.

Nearly 3,000 students and young professionals ages 21-29 from 14 countries were included in the Cisco survey entitled the Connected World Technology Report.

Highlights of the Connected World Technology Report

• One in three college students and young professionals see online connectivity as a fundamental need
• Over half of survey participants cite the Internet as an “integral part of their lives”
• Sixty-four percent of respondents would choose connectivity over owning a car
• Forty percent think having Web connectivity is more important than dating, music or going out with friends
• Half would rather lose their wallet or purse than their Web-ready smartphone
• Twenty percent hadn’t bought a printed book in two years
• Ten percent thought TV was important in their lives

Choosing social media over pay

Forty percent of college students and 45 percent of young workers surveyed favored social media freedom, device flexibility and the ability to telecommute over salary when considering a job offer. Of those, a whopping 81 percent wanted the freedom to choose the work device or be allowed to bring in a personal device.

Don’t call us, we’ll call you

According to a report by the French consulting firm Decode Consulting SAS, only 33 percent of young social media users want job recruiters to actually contact them via social media. It’s Generation Y’s game, suggests Decode CEO Robert Barnard. Perhaps it’s just the kind of thing Big Brother just doesn’t understand

Facebook over bucks? Really?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeQo8Hs5UxM

Sources

CBS News

Cisco report (PDF)

Decode Consulting SAS

Hot HardWare

Lindsey Pollack