NAVIGATING THE WORKLIFE OF GEN Z

Gen Z individuals are, quite literally, the new Millennials when it comes to society heaping criticism on them, accusing them of anything from speaking a different language, to laziness.

But with Gen Z set to account for over a quarter of the workforce by 2025, this week I wanted to take a look at this demographic from a leadership perspective - managing these individuals and their ambitions.

First up, a reminder that Gen Z is the generation born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s,?and is known for being the first generation to grow up entirely in a digital world.?This has shaped them to be tech-savvy,?information-fluent,?and comfortable with online communities.

It's worth highlighting that the Covid pandemic impacted their formative years,?disrupting education,?hindering social interaction,?and creating anxieties around health and the future. So, it’s perhaps understandable that these individuals are often seen as complex.

Here I’ve rounded up some interesting articles which look at Gen Z in the workplace…

Firstly, tardiness…, according to research of 1000 British adults carried out by Meeting Canary, almost half of those aged 16 to 26 said that being between five and ten minutes late is “just as good as being punctual”. The study also revealed that attitudes towards this shift with age, with around 40% of millennials saying they are forgiving of colleagues running 10 minutes behind schedule, but this drops to just 26% for Generation X and 20% for baby boomers. You can read more about the study via Fortune’s analysis here - https://tinyurl.com/4u3fw3z3

Meanwhile, according to the New York Post, there’s “a fight for phone calls in the workplace — employers are hiring pros to combat Gen Z workers’ ‘telephonophobia’”. It refers, of course, to Gen Z’s preference for digital messaging, rather than picking up the phone – although perhaps this is something that extends beyond that generation nowadays too. Smiley, winky face. Dial in here to find out more - https://tinyurl.com/3tkpjr3v

Certainly, Gen Z is disrupting the workplace, and Forbes shines the light on the new work trends ‘that aren’t going anywhere’. They include Gen Z expecting constant change; values being super important; teamwork and collaboration being important; and mental health trumping work. Get the full lowdown here - https://tinyurl.com/5fxaha3k

Training and development are what Entrepreneur claims Gen Z wants the most – and offers some advice on how to structure skills programmes. Find out more here - https://tinyurl.com/24js894c

And finally, with Gen Z accounting for some 27 per cent of the workforce by 2025, insurance giant Zurich has a great article which also looks at how this group is changing the workplace – and, more importantly, how employers should respond. Wise words here: Every generation changes the world of work, from the influx of women into the workforce during World War II to the way Millennials raised awareness of issues like mental health. But Gen Zs are coming of age in the wake of a historic pandemic, geopolitical turmoil and at a time when the climate emergency poses an unprecedented threat to humanity. What they look for at work – and what they will not accept – is likely to have an enduring impact. And more great insights here - https://tinyurl.com/bd6uwvd3

What are your experiences of Gen Z in the workplace? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Photo by?Mimi Thian?on?Unsplash