Why Every Company Needs Gen Z Workforce
If you ask a person, in the corporate world, what they think about Generation Z who are now in the workforce, they will share their distaste or talk about how lazy they are in the workplace, and I believe that a lot of people are choosing to focus on the aspect that they want to see.
Gen Zs, the generation that succeeds millennials and precedes generation alpha, like the generations before them have brought their own unique contribution and characteristics to the workplace. Where Baby boomers are recognized for their work ethic and loyalty, Gen X for their independence and enterprising spirit and Millennials for their collaborative approach and tech-savvy nature, Gen Z should be recognized for their competitive nature and determination.
Unlike the other generations, Gen Z grew up with a lot of global events as well as technological advancement which I would say led to their unique perspective of work and life that the other generations do not seem to agree on. Their technological advancement surpasses that of the generations before them, as well as their progressive mindset can be seen as a boost which sets them apart from the other generations in the business climate which is increasingly becoming dependent on digital innovation.
When it comes to the corporate world, Gen Z is expected to make up 30% of the workforce by 2030, which means that they are already entering the job market often filling entry-level positions.
They are characterized by their digital savviness, having grown up in the early technological age as well as having technology itself at their fingertips.
They are adept at using digital tools and social media, influencing their communication styles and work preferences.
In a lot of companies, Gen Zs are the ones who are in charge of its social media appearances, seeing as most of the people who consume internet content are from that generation and they know what’s trending and what is not.
In a situation where a lot of companies are owned by Gen X and Millennials who have been educated to prioritize career advancement without questioning anything and Gen Z in entry level positions who haven’t been educated in that and thereby question any task that is being handed to them, that will obviously rub wrong on the older ones and instead of an instance where they guide the Gen Z through or focus on why the task was being questioned, they will instead immediately chalk it up to signs of laziness or rudeness.
A lot of people who claim to not enjoy Gen Zs in their workforce say it is because they are lazy and not willing to work but I am very certain that it is the opposite. Gen Zs’ are young people who are eager to learn new things, take on challenges and improve themselves as well as their knowledge. Even though there are people who have these claims, there are also others who claim that working with Gen Z is very refreshing because they remind you of things that were not allowed to be taken for granted.
There have been millennials and Gen Xs who have come out to say that they love their Gen Z employees because they, once upon a time, reminded them of what it is like to prioritize your wellbeing. They have also mentioned how they have never prioritized their mental health and wellbeing until a Gen Z colleague/employee pointed it out after an obvious crash out.
Yes, they have their challenges but so do the other generations. No generation is perfect, especially if you are still stuck in a time that no longer exists.
There are a lot of people who are still stuck in their once upon a time and because of it, they struggle to adapt to these new dynamics that the younger generation is presenting to them. I would like to note that it is especially important to recognize the impact Gen Z has brought to the corporate world, especially with their workforce.
The average Gen Z prioritizes mental wellbeing, work-life balance and other wellbeing factors that are not emphasized traditionally in the workplace, and they make sure others are also aware of it because not everyone grew up with such priorities.
There is an obvious shift from how things were done in the 20th century to how things are done now, and it can be hard for the older generation to adapt since they are all used to the old work habits. Through this, they fail to notice the unique strength Gen Z has and how they are not soiling the integrity of the corporate world but rather changing it to be more inclusive, diverse, and having a balance between a worker’s work life and personal life. The moment they stop seeing the younger generation as a pimple that needs to be popped but as a group of people who are entering the job market and are eager for growth opportunities and forming meaningful connections, they will see that they’re just as pleasant to work with as any other person.
Up to 70% of managers believe Gen Z is the most challenging generation to work with. And so, I guess a question that we should ask ourselves as people is: is it difficult to manage Gen Z members in the workplace?
Author: Emmanuella Elvis
AGNC 