There are few demographic groups that are as misunderstood as Gen Z. Some people think they're entitled, and others think they're lazy. But there could be some truth to both sides of the debate.
Photo credit: Jacob
Even if you may have never heard the term “Gen Z” before, chances are, you know who they are. Gen Z is that 20-something in your office with a weird sense of humor who likes to play the drums on their desk and can’t stop posting memes on Instagram.
This generation follows the millennials and their beginning birth years are the late 1990s while ending birth years are the early 2010s. They’re also the people who are most likely to quit their jobs in 90 days or less.
Gen Zs are the newest members in the workforce, believed to be about 5-10 years younger than Millennials. They have been shaping the workforce with their discoveries and inventions lately. However, despite all these great contributions, there have been a lot of discussions about their lack of loyalty and questionable work ethic. So are Gen Z’s misunderstood or do they just suck at keeping a job?
Gen Z may be the most misunderstood generation
Just like every generation, Gen Z has its own unique set of values and priorities. But unlike the millennials before them, they lack the same opportunities to establish their place in the world. They’re also facing more challenges than any other generation before them.
Gen Z is the first generation to be born into a world of smartphones and social media, so they have a higher propensity to be cautious, independent, and self-sufficient. They are used to living their lives online and communicating primarily through technology. Their technology usage is more advanced than previous generations, so they are well equipped for the fast-paced environment that awaits them in their future career.
Gen Z wants a sense of purpose in their work
Gen Z's are the first generation to have been born entirely in the digital age. They’re also the least likely to be employed. A recent study revealed that over half of Gen Z university students expect to have five or more different jobs before they retire.
Gen Z employees are notorious for not being loyal to the job or company they work for. As Gen Z members enter the workforce, employers need to understand how this generation thinks and their priorities.
A sense of purpose is a big one. Gen Z's want their work to be meaningful and make a difference. They’re looking for an organization that does good things for people and the world around them.
This means that companies need to think about how their products or services impact people’s lives and communicate that clearly in job descriptions.
Gen Zs prefer to communicate in short, written messages, but this can be difficult for older workers to understand and leads to confusion
Gen Zs have grown up with the internet and smartphones and are used to communicating via social media. This means they enjoy texting and messaging.
This can be frustrating for their older colleagues, who often find it hard to keep up with the pace of text conversations.
However, there is a bright side. Gen Zs have the greatest appreciation for new technologies and use social media in a professional manner – a huge advantage in today's workplace.
Gen Zs have high expectations, but they don't always know how to meet them
Gen Z has grown up in an instant gratification society where everything is available at the touch of a finger. They expect quick results and are impatient with waiting for things. When it comes to working, this means they tend to get bored easily and don’t want to wait years before they get promoted into a higher position. If they feel like they are not moving up in the company fast enough, they will simply leave the job and find another one.
Gen Zs have a difficult time focusing on one thing at a time. This is something that older generations don't have much trouble with, but it can be very difficult for someone who has been learning almost every new skill since birth to focus on one task for any amount of time at all.
It's important for Gen Zs to realize that corporate culture is different from what they're used to at home. To them, workplace hierarchies and bureaucracy only stifle their creativity and innovation. Gen Zs need guidance on how best to make it through this maze of an office culture (businesses should do a better job at treating employees like customers).
If Gen Zs can figure out how best to navigate their way through the workplace, it could mean a lot of happy employees later down the line.
Gen Zs have new ideas about work-life balance
Managers have reported that Gen Z employees have complained about missing out on social functions, wanting more time off, and not feeling valued enough at work. All these reasons may sound silly to Gen X or even Millennials, but they are important aspects to Gen Z members who want to balance their work-life with their personal life.
They don’t know how to take criticism
This generation is being raised by helicopter parents. They are used to being told how great they are, making it hard for them to take criticism.
It’s important, then, that employers do their best to address this issue by teaching them how to handle criticism in a way that is constructive rather than destructive.
In conclusion
It’s early to draw clear conclusions on what the future holds for Gen Z and their employers. Still, the overall trend suggests that the tension between both parties stems from Gen Z’s high expectations for purpose-driven work, flexibility, and more reasonable hours. Employers will likely have to meet these demands if they want to attract and retain Gen Z employees in the future.
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