The Huffington Post recently published the results of a poll on millennial workers which presents some interesting findings. The results found that millennial workers, or generation Y employees, are often seen as having a poor work ethic. This is a common concern for other generations when working with or considering a millennial for hire.

Are these assumptions fair? Or is it a simple misunderstanding of what really motivates millennial workers?

As a member of generation Y, and an employee at TemboSocial I have certain views and experience on the subject. I grew up during the evolution of the Internet. I experienced first hand how it has revolutionized the world's social space. Tools like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and smart phones have changed the way my generation connects. This new social space has become a major influence on what engages my generation. We are no longer only motivated by money; it is non-monetary incentives like social recognition that really drive myself and my generation to excel.

Organizations can decide to either fight this reality or embrace it and adopt social recognition programs that connect and engage their employees. What has worked as motivation with past generations no longer has the same effect on my generation. If organizations want to get the most out of their millennial workers, they should focus on creating a social workplace.

Read our white paper on why social recognition matters to learn more on what really motivates a millennial.