Lessons from Generation Z
No one can deny the impact the pandemic has had on all of our lives. And the time spent indoors, working from home and chatting online has afforded us time for reflection; time that many of us have not had in the past--to think about what we want from the world of work. I'm hearing this from clients, from friends and family: A renewed sense of priorities that will shape the next chapter of our lives; a chapter whose criteria for work includes autonomy, authenticity, wellness, and value. And this may be no more apparent than with the newest generation to join the workforce--Generation Z. One could certainly argue that no other generation in recent times has been so affected by a global event. Gen Z's graduated college virtually, interviewed for jobs on Zoom and struggled to find their way into adult society at a time that, for sure, has been riddled with uncertainty. So what can we learn from this generation?
PEW Research reveals characteristics of Generation Z that may come as no great surprise to those of us with twenty-somethings in our lives. They are digitally native, social media rock stars, well-educated and the most diverse generation in history. And what do they value? According to PEW and McKenzie Reports, Generation Z, above all, values TRUTH and a desire for IDENTITY. Now these are not values exclusive to twenty-five year-olds, but they do have the ability to help lead all five generations in the workforce into a paradigm shift of work culture; one in which companies are compelled to provide greater autonomy to its employees, in the form of personal time, flexible hours, remote work and all manner of benefits. And because Generation Z is the most educated and technologically skilled group in the workforce today, they can make demands of potential employers that older workers may be not able to successfully leverage. As they push for a more value-driven work environment and one that allows the worker to share his/her schedule, we can all benefit. Generation Z’s, Lead the way!!
