Gen Z - Generation Gap or Not

#Generationz – Generation gap or not. “Generation gaps are a figment of our imagination and are best understood by putting ourselves into the shoes as a grandchild, granduncle or grandaunt.” Mar Vin, Foo???

Gen Z is interesting, Millenials too. Gen X and Gen Y are cool while Boomers rule the world.

Recently, an undergraduate from Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information asked me about my views on Gen Z. I shared with her a couple of my posts revolving around this generation so that she gets a drift on my thoughts about Gen Z before I dissect the subject.

“Boss, I will run around naked!” –

Career Gaps are a Norm

For a start, we need to look at the categorization of different generations. We distinguish people by categorizing them like science, just like we do with materials, animals and birds. What we are doing is essentially dividing people instead of uniting them. The end result is amplifying the nuances into noises that cracks our society and work.

Science is fantastic giving us all the wonderful comforts and convenience, but I think philosophy, social studies and wisdom needs catching up.

We had a renaissance period that awoken our senses and indulgence in art. Similarly, smart digital has connected all of us. With a smartphone, we democratized and levelled the playing field for everyone.

When it comes to work ethics, I think Gen Z likes work that resonates with their beliefs and values. I think they are a resilient group which is vocal and knows what they want.

In fact, I think they are the strongest generation group despite the incumbency laid out by the boomers who created the prosperous modern world supported by Gen X, Y and Millennials.

Gen Z is digitally savvy which means they are able to obtain information and resources easily and quickly.

Many Gen Z’ers are born into affluent families in an era where family nuclei have shrunk. They are adept in achieving their goals with the guidance of their parents, grandparents and uncles or aunties who are established at work.

Without the need to sacrifice their values and beliefs for sustenance, Gen Z has both the will and the abilities to walk away from weak practices in sustainability, mental health, justice and corporate work ethics.

When we speak about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Environment Social Governance (ESG), this is increasingly of importance to Gen Z. While the salary matters, Gen Z places great emphasis on the values which a company or organization stand for and research intensively before joining one.

I have seen companies creating apps, signing up with mental wellness providers to engage Gen Z. We are enjoying these perks and flexibility because of them. I think the Gen Z made leaders from the earlier generations to be more vocal and engaging to keep attention. The pandemic gave the stamp of approval for hybrid work, which obviously resonates in their way of growing up digitally.

Coming back to the terminologies of the different generations, I think we ought to minimize the analysis of generations and instead, emphasize the familial ties between people of different ages.

“Generation gaps are a figment of our imagination and are best understood by putting ourselves into the shoes as a grandchild, granduncle or grandaunt.” Mar Vin, Foo???

Intergenerational office relationships can improve when we start viewing each other with familial ties. However, corporate companies shouldn’t start claiming work as a family when employees are gaslighted and sacrificed in bad times while the uncles and aunts continue sitting there collecting their paycheck and bonuses.

“Don’t get boxed in with a label, instead box out for fresh air!”

#marvinTechAdvocate

I am Mar Vin, Foo???

Thank you for breaking out of labels.

First published on marvinfoo.com, 02 March 2023