Gen Zers, or people born between 1997 and 2012, will make up 27% of the workforce by 2025. That means they'll soon be working at your company, if they're not already.
What differentiates this generation from those that preceded it? Statistically, it is worth noting a few facts.
Generation Z is poised to become the most diverse and educated generation to date. More than 20% of its members identify as LGBT. However, they have little or no memory of 11/XNUMX. Almost everyone has a smartphone, at least in the developed world.
Perhaps most importantly, a significant percentage of them began their working lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. This can have an impact that reverberates for years.
I asked the experts at Qwoted for a real-world perspective on people's experiences with Gen Z in the workplace. I got a lot of replies, and some threads were obvious.
show the way
"They long to be a mentor: someone to take them under their wing, show them the Jedi way, have heart-to-heart discussions, and provide them with a real, tangible, lasting relationship with someone who cares about their betterment," says Austin Fox, president of PeopleCaddie. , a temporary employment agency.
Although this group grew up with a screen always at hand, they need human contact more than those who came before them, says Fox. "Millennials were all about texting and email; Gen Z is all about video, face-to-face and live interaction," he says.
This is perhaps not surprising, given that human contact was very rare in the early years of his career.
TalentReef, creator of a high-volume recruiting platform, posted tips on his blog earlier this year for attracting Gen Z talent.
Their recommendations include promoting your company culture with fun music videos, making the application process quick and easy, hiring promising candidates quickly, and promoting the causes your company supports.
Respect gender preferences
Gender identity is important to this group, experts say.
For example, Veris Insights found that "three-quarters of LGBTQ+ students said they would find an employer more attractive if asked about their pronouns in an interview, while 86% of LGBTQ+ students consider it important to feel comfortable at work." . according to Chelsea Schein, director of college recruiting research at the recruiting intelligence and analytics firm.
Experts say a generation that came of age during lockdowns is to be expected to avoid office work, but the opposite is true.
A study by human resources software maker BambooHR found that 48% of Gen Z feel more productive in the office, compared to 30% of baby boomers, 32% of members of generation X and 45% of millennials.
In fact, the study found that members of this generation are more interested in seeing their colleagues in person than the four cohorts that preceded them, according to the study.
Not that they want to be chained to a desk.
"Gen Z is driving the big dropout," says Ximena Hartsock, founder of BuildWithin, a company that helps companies manage learning programs. “They have seen the lack of work/life balance in their parents and want a better life for them. They got their first job during the pandemic and expect the work to be remote and flexible.”
A recent survey by IWG, a global provider of hybrid workspaces, found that Gen Z hybrid workers are the least likely to say that their personal career development has progressed as a result of hybrid working. Members of this group also have the lowest expectations for the amount of pay raise they would receive for returning to the office full time.
compassion matters
While a good salary is at stake for hiring in a market like this, Gen Zers are more likely to expect additional services that support their health and wellness than their predecessors.
"Taking care of employees should be the top priority," says Birk Cooper, chief marketing officer for Fetch Rewards, which manages the loyalty programs.
Among the services your company provides to all of your employees are free confidential counseling, legal support, mental health resources, paid parental leave, and childcare assistance.
“Value alignment is the most important thing for this generation,” says Cooper. "Every company pushes the Black History, LGBTQ+, and Women's History agenda, but what are they doing 24/7?"
Many Gen Zers may have started their careers during the shutdowns, but that doesn't make them any more or less resilient than others, says PeopleCaddie's Fox.
“COVID helped them overcome adversity; through adversity it builds confidence,” she says. "They have resources. Because they've been so adept at figuring things out for themselves, they can figure things out, but they still want a roadmap that shows what success looks like."
This will be your job.
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