Generation Z (commonly abbreviated as Gen Z) is the demographic cohort after millennials, generally characterized as being born in the years after 2000.
A lot of people have a distorted view of generation Gen Z.
Views like they’re lazy, they’re entitled, and they just want to be able to do anything they want without any effort are common, especially with the older workforce.
However, that is not exactly true. Gen Z is a whole new type of worker.
They want jobs that make them feel like they’re helping others, and they want to be able to make an impact, especially on the younger generation.
It is not just about your pay. It’s about how you can be an example and help other people as well.
The Workplace in Today’s Society & Why It Needs to Change
Generation Z grew up with the internet and social media, and they are glued to their phones.
They weren’t raised with traditional work ethics but are now at the forefront of workplace trends, whether it’s flexible schedules or remote working, or whatever else.
Some of the realities they face are that they don’t often hear “no,” and if you do, they get offended and will feel like you’re being rude, so this can lead to some serious issues.
Overall, Gen Zs are making a huge impact in the workplace because of their youthful outlook and their willingness to speak out about what needs to change.
Millennials and Gen Z in the Workplace
Generation Xers and millennials have been in the workforce a long time, but with a new generation coming up come some new rules and new trends.
Gen Z is much different than their parents and previous generations for a lot of reasons, such as that they’re more focused on being social online, and that means social media use has expanded a lot more than it did with previous generations.
They won’t blindly follow orders from you as much but will be able to focus on work more because they can talk to each other about what’s going on at work.
What Millennials Wants From Their Workplace
Millennials are focused on the whole work-life balance and the ability to get rid of those work week blues.
They’re all about flexibility in work; wanting to be able to, as they say, work where they want, when they want, and being able to get flexible schedules is a big thing.
They dislike anything that is too corporate or too structured as well. They’re not fans of any middle management and like to bypass them by going directly over their heads, meaning bosses need to be your friend and become an ally.
What Gen Z Wants From Their Workplace
Each generation has its own perspective on what the workplace needs to change.
The workplace is always getting more technologically advanced, so they want things to keep up with that so they can develop and grow with the trends.
They want flexible schedules as well because a lot of them work jobs that don’t start until late at night, so they want to be able to set their schedules accordingly.
They also want a relaxed and comfortable environment that’s not stressful, especially when you go into a place where it’s all business.
How Millennials & Gen Z Can Unite for Change in Corporate America
Millennials and Gen Z both have specific expectations when it comes to the workplace.
However, some of their demands are usually very different, which is a huge reason why it’s so important that they can come together and create change together.
They both want the same things but with two very different perspectives, and they’ll be able to collaborate to get them done easier.
They want to work in a place where their input matters, especially millennials who want everything to be done by them and not taken away from them anymore.
Both generations want to work in a workforce that stands for something. Working for companies and not-for-profits that are always trying to make a difference is also a major thing for them.
Millennials want work that makes an impact and gets them involved with the community, but Gen Z wants to get involved in something bigger than themselves. They want to work without the worry that they are selling their souls.
There are definitely things that both generations need to work together on because when you bring together those two different viewpoints, it’s going to lead to the best results possible.
Working For A Political Cause
When you’re working in a workplace where you have to advocate for your community, it’s important that you bring the right people on board.
They’re going to make sure that it’s not going to impact their business, and they’re likely to bring other people around them, too, so it’s important that you know who you’re working with.
It’s also important that the work environment can continue being flexible, especially if employees are going to be using their personal devices, which can cause issues as well.
Working within the charity or nonprofit sector within a political cause is very important in today’s society.
It keeps their work from clashing with their personal lives, especially if they have to do a lot of work during the day, and it’s important that their business can still be productive when they’re off the clock.
That’s why it’s really important that you find a workplace that is both environmentally friendly and also politically sensitive.
This is a difficult task if the business is working without regulation or without the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, for example, giving your company and the workforce the guidance needed.
There are plenty of companies out there who are helping to make a difference by donating their time to environmental causes as well as helping people within the community.
How Employers Can Keep Millenials and Gen Z Satisfied & Motivated In The Long Term
Nonprofit organizations can be a good place to work for both Millennials and Gen Z. They serve a purpose and are going to put themselves out there in the community so that it affects their business.
Millennials will be more focused on the mission, and they want to know that their goal is being accomplished, so they won’t want to go somewhere where they’re not hearing about how everything is going.
They also want things to change in the workplace, which means you’re going to have some pretty big changes come up as well.
Nonprofit organizations can be a good place to work for both Millennials and Gen Z. They serve a purpose and are going to put themselves out there in the community so that it affects their business.
Millennials will be more focused on the mission, and they want to know that their goal is being accomplished, so they won’t want to go somewhere where they’re not hearing about how everything is going.
They also want things to change in the workplace, whether it be flexible working hours or non-traditional compensation models.
Gen Z is interested in the sense of purpose, and they want to know that they are doing something to make a change, so that’s why they’re passionate about working in not-for-profits.
Both generations will also be more interested in companies that make an impact, but they want to do it without sacrificing their happiness, so finding a workplace where you can be both social and still get work done will be important for them.
Millennials and Gen Z are socially focused on the work environment, and most workplaces aren’t yet set up to incorporate them into the company.
