Is remote right for Gen-Z?

Without doubt, for those of us who are mid-way (or further) through our careers, remote working or hybrid working is preferable. Our priorities have changed and the “new normal” suits us down to the ground.

But, for young people who are at the start of their career, it may not be so rosy. We may assume that a work life balance is favoured by everyone, but our research shows that may not be the case.?

This may strike a chord…

A recent survey by Ten Spot showed that only 30% of Gen Z wanted to stay remote full time, while 34% said they were “more productive and engaged” working from the office.?

“Humans are social creatures,” says Sammy Courtright, co-founder and Chief Brand Officer at Ten Spot. And Jade Russell (24), a Marketing Executive at Tiger Marketing, seems to agree.??

“I’m quite a social person, so being able to have real-life human contact is nice sometimes. I think it’s harder to build relationships through a screen,” she told DigitalGrads.?

“Working in the office when I first started my career was imperative. I can’t imagine having to learn the ropes and getting the hang of working life in this industry from home.”

This is something that was echoed in the research by Ten Spot:

“For Gen Z workers, some of the most exciting perks about a job are the company culture, socialising with coworkers, and finding a mentor they really connect with.”

Unfortunately, research from Microsoft paints an even bleaker picture for this demographic. Data from Microsoft Work Trends Index , suggests Gen Z is struggling more than any other age group to feel engaged or excited about working this way. Worryingly, 60% of this generation said they were “merely surviving or flat-out struggling” right now.

What’s really going on?

Gen Z workers responded to Microsoft’s surveys by saying they find themselves more stressed than their peers. They tend to be single because they’re younger, which may heighten feelings of isolation. To make matters worse, they don’t have the financial means to create a comfortable workspace at home if their employer won’t pay for it.?

We all know that it can be far harder to create meaningful connections with co-workers over zoom.?

Just imagine it’s your first job ever and not going to the pub on a Friday with work mates, not going out for lunch or not doing yoga with colleagues. No quick catch-ups in the kitchen, no in-person meetings, and no chit chat at your desk.

Does hybrid strike the perfect balance?

As company owners we’ve more than likely settled into the work pattern that is the perfect solution for our lifestyle.?

But have you stopped to ask yourself whether your new work pattern is conducive for enjoyable and productive work for all your employees? No? You could try a quick anonymous survey to gauge how your employees feel about hybrid or remote working.

It’s possible that working from home, whether partially or full-time, means Gen-Z workers may not learn as quickly, they could easily develop bad habits or, worse, become disengaged and leave your business shortly after you’ve hired them if they're not adequately looked after.

While Gen-Z may only make up a fraction of your workforce - they are the talent of the future. If you’re committed to growing your business and you believe in doing the right thing you mustn’t inadvertently leave a generation of employees behind. We have a duty to guide and teach Gen-Z workers just as our managers did for us.?

If this has piqued your interest, the full article is here: Don’t know what they’re missing – is WFH right for Gen Z ?

We also have some great tips, advice and checklists in our Remote Onboarding Pack that you may find helpful.

Until next time…