If you are a business owner, you have undoubtedly heard about the rise of millennials in the workplace. While the term "millennial" may be a catch-all description of any member of the generation born between 1982 and 2004, it can carry with it a connotation of technological savvy, pervasive hipness, 21st-century thinking, and other attributes that are generally a good thing for future-paced businesses to aspire to within their industry. Because of this, many business owners have a keen interest in attracting and retaining the employment of millennials in their firm. Here are a few ideas for winning over the members of this intriguing generation of unique, forward-thinking individuals. 
 
First and foremost, it's important to note that not all employers' opinions of millennials are entirely favorable; in fact, this generation is often unfairly maligned, with a mostly-undeserved reputation of narcissism, entitlement and ennui preceding them. While of course there may be some millennials out there who fit the stereotype, the overall attitude of young millennial professionals is overwhelmingly positive. This generation has an eagerness to make a difference in the world, no matter how small, that is reflected in everything they do. Possibly the best way to attract millennial talent as a business owner is to demonstrate that you believe in them, both as a collective and as individuals. You can do this by offering perks that showcase your willingness to share, rather than own, your employees' time, as well as spotlight and celebrate the unique differences and abilities that make them essential to the day-to-day workings of your company. 
 
Some of the best perks that can cause millennials to take notice of your business may include employee incentives, such as contests and rewards for above-and-beyond performance. For example, you may find an overwhelmingly positive response from your millennial employees if you announce a contest to help your firm come up with a new slogan or tagline for the latest marketing campaign. Similarly, your millennial employee base may enjoy monthly awards for Most Creative Solution, or Raising the Bar, set aside to honor a team member who did a particularly outstanding job of thinking outside the box or setting a new standard for company excellence. 
 
On-the-job incentives don't have to reward performance to be of value to your millennial employees- tokens of appreciation such as provision of healthy snacks in the staff break room, gift baskets featuring useful items like disposable bulk earbuds for listening to music at work, or health and wellness-related gifts like water bottles, pedometers or gym memberships all go a long way toward increasing your millennial team members' loyalty, productivity, and on-the-job satisfaction. Next time you're wondering how to keep the millennial members of your staff happy, remember that everybody loves little perks that show your appreciation for all they do!