What are Generation Z values in the workplace?
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As more and more Generation Z workers become part of the workforce, we need to understand more about the characteristics of our Generation Z colleagues, the differences in our perspectives, and seek common ground to work better as a team, create value for the company, and build harmonious collegial relationships.
Research on Generation Z
- Firstly, what’s Generation Z’s Characteristic?
- Secondly, why is Generation Z different from other generations?
- Thirdly, how to treat your Generation Z colleagues?
In order to work better with Generation Z, we need to know as much as possible about their traits. Generation Z is the new labor force at work, and they bring their way of thinking and habits with them. We get to know them, not only to be able to work better, but also to understand the future of the main customer group, the young people’s consumer behaviors.
What’s Generation Z’s Characteristic
First of all, we should reiterate the definition of Generation Z. Broadly speaking, Generation Z is the generation born in 1997-2009 (some say 1995). People also call Generation Z the “Internet Generation” because they were born in contact with the information age and have been influenced by digital information technology.
Patty Donahue 2 December 9, 2022 Figure 1. The Generation Defined1
In life and work, Generation Z is innovative, likes to challenge new things, and they are even a bit idealistic. “Managing expectations are crucial as Generation Z employees often have an idealistic picture that the work will be interesting and meaningful, that their managers will want to hear and implement their ideas, that they will have flexibility in the schedule, and that they will enjoy everyone they work with”2
Generation Z employees are concerned about the work meaningful to them.
Not only to the company’s earnings, but also to society and the world. They will go after the meaning of life, the meaning of work. They don’t like complicated procedures in doing things, and they like to be straightforward. Do not like the red tape in the workplace, like straightforward and sincere communication.
They are used to a balance between life and work, and are very conscious of their private free time, and do not like to be occupied for no reason. They value their personal hobbies. For them, work is not only to earn money to support themselves, but also to improve themselves and get enriched from work; they pay more attention to the sense of achievement and respect and understanding of others.
Anxiety is a common problem of Generation Z.
Due to the advent of the information age, mobile multimedia flood of information, bringing the Z generation great pressure as they tend to anxiety, to a certain extent, they have higher probability to be depressed. But at the same time, cell phones and the Internet are their favorite means of communication.
Michael. D, “Defining generations: Where Millennials end and Generation Z begins”, Pew Research Center, 2019, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/01/17/where-millennials-end-and-generation-z-begins/
H. A. Schroth, student survey from Leading People undergraduate class, Spring Semester 2018 2
“Use technology such as videos and a variety of communication media to introduce information about the company and demonstrate any communication (e.g., Slack) or social networking tools used to facilitate internal interactions. The top learning method for 59% of Generation Z!s is YouTube”3
Why is Generation Z different from other generations?
Lack of work experience
Nowadays, we rarely see young people from Generation Z taking on jobs, whether part-time or full time, and they are not yet fully engaged in the workplace. As well as they do not need to maintain full responsibility for their family. “In 1979, 60% of teens held a job, while in 2015, 34% of teens held a job and it is expected to drop to 25% in 2025”. 4
Different growing environment
“Some measures of economic well-being indicate that post-Millennials are growing up in more affluent circumstances than previous generations did. The median or typical household income of 6- to 21-year-olds is $63,700. After adjusting for inflation the typical Millennial grew up in a household with a slightly lower income level ($62,400). After adjusting for inflation the typical Millennial grew up in a household with a slightly lower income level ($62,400). The typical household income resources of Gen Xers ($52,800) and early Boomers ($42,000) growing up were significantly below these levels.”5
In China, many Generation Z workers have been called “workplace revolutionaries” by other workers. This is because unlike other generations who have various concerns, they do not need to worry about money or family. If they feel that they are not being treated with respect and fairness, they will resign in anger. For example, there are often bosses who make employees work overtime without subsidies, take away employees’ personal time, and even mind control employees. If it is other generations of workers, they are concerned about raising their families and will put up with it. But Generation Z will not.
Pearson Higher Education Survey, “What Do Generation Z and Millennials Expect from Technology in Education?” 2018, https://www.pearsoned.com/generation-z-millennials-expect-technology-education/.
Teresa L. Morisi, “Teen Labor Force Participation before and after the Great Recession and Beyond,” Monthly Labor 4 Review (February 2017), doi:10.21916/mlr.2017.5
5 R. Fry and K. Parker, “Early Benchmarks Show ‘Post-Millennials’ on Track to be Most Diverse, Best-Educated Generation”, Pew Research Center, 2018, http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2018/11/15/early-benchmarks-show-post-millennials-on-track-to-be-most diverse-best-educated-generation-yet/.
Generation Z usually has a common weakness: that is, they are not good at communicating with others face to face. Because they were born in the Internet era, they are more accustomed to
communicating with others online on the Internet. And face-to-face communication is difficult for them.“When asked on a typical day whether they communicate more in person or digitally, Generation Z and Millennials reported they communicate 74% digitally and 26% in person.”6
How to treat your Generation Z colleagues?
For management here are some great tips I recommend to recruit, manage, and retain Generation Z employees:
1.“Providing a checklist: Include a specific timeline, goals, responsibilities, and resources/support available for the first day, first week, first month, and three months.”
2. “Facilitate communication: Have Q&A sessions with senior leaders, HR, key staff, and coworkers with whom they will be interacting and are integral to their success in the company.” 3. “Reinforce existing culture and sense of purpose: Explain the significance of their new role and how their presence makes a difference for the team.”
4. “Provide feedback channels: As a manager, set aside a block of uninterrupted time to spend with the newcomer to answer questions and address concerns. Make sure feedback goes in both directions.”7
R. Bradbury, “The Digital Lives of Millennials and Gen Z,” LivePerson, 2018, https://www.liveperson.com/resources/reports/ 6 digital-lives-of-millennials-genz/.
H. J. Klein and B. Polin, “Are Organizations Onboard with Best Practices Onboarding?” in The Oxford Handbook of 7 Organizational Socialization, ed. C. R. Wanberg (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2012), pp. 267-287.
Anna Dolot, The characteristic of Generation Z, “e-mentor” 2018, s. 44–50, http://dx.doi. org/10.15219/em74.1351. 8
Patty Donahue 5 December 9, 2022 Source: e-mentor
Less than half of Generation Z will stay with a company, and most of Generation Z will probably not stay with a company for very long. Their choices are more flexible, so to retain Generation Z employees, it is important not only to give superior company benefits, but also to create a sense of belonging for them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a company is always developing and progressing. Moreover, a company with potential must be inclusive, tolerant of multiple cultures and all kinds of talents. So to get along with Generation Z, we need to be more tolerant of them, accept diverse cultures and ideas, and more often than not, we need to believe that they can solve their own problems and be autonomous.
To sum up, the young people of Generation Z have dreams and strengths. They are sincere. Furthermore, they have innovative thinking. In addition, they dare to try new things. Moreover, they bring us new impact constantly, they enter the workplace with energy and dreams, they come to us with friendliness and sincerity. Lastly, we hope we respect them and encourage them.
