DOT Appeals to Gen Y Online

The Transportation Department is using a variety of technology tools to attract and retain the younger generation of workers, and the launch of its new online social network is just the latest example of that, agency officials told Wired Workplace on Wednesday.

Brodi Fontenot, DOT's acting deputy assistant secretary for administration, said the department's new IdeaHub, an online community where its 55,000 employees across the country can share and collaborate on new ideas, is an attempt by the department not only to connect employees and generate new ideas, but also to attract and retain the younger, net generation, many of whom demand access to social networking tools at work. "I think technology is essential to the Millennial generation as a means of communication," he said. "I think word is also getting around that DOT has actually embraced technology, and IdeaHub is a manifestation of that."

Fontenot pointed to other examples of how the agency is embracing technology to connect employees and appeal to the American public, including potential Millennial workers. For example, Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood writes the agency's Fast Lane blog, and the agency also has a Facebook page, YouTube channel and Twitter account, he said.

The generational issues do not end there, however. The key also has been encouraging the agency's senior executives and more seasoned workers to embrace the change and realize the power of using technology to improve their work. Marlise Streitmatter, deputy chief of staff at Transportation, said the secretary has asked all senior executives to log on and participate by rating and commenting on ideas and adding value to discussions. "We're actively working to encourage our managers across the department to use this as a management tool," she said, "so that they can not only get information from the front lines and understand what's happening and what's being discussed among employees, but can also have collaboration through the website."