As an employer, having the opportunity to attract and retain the brightest and best of each generation would require understanding how they work and what they consider valuable in the career journey.
Throughout the last few years, some employers might have noticed a completely new generation of workers stepping onto the labor market.
The highly diverse and tech-savvy group of workers, who haven’t known a world without the internet or technology is now completely changing how employers keep their workers motivated and engaged.
Generation Z or Gen Zs as some would call them, are those individuals born between 1997 and 2012, and have in recent years jumped onto the labor market making up 12.6% of the American workforce as of 2020 according to figures by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In no time, Gen Zs have completely changed the face of the workplace, highlighting the importance of workplace culture, commitment to societal challenges such as sustainability, and demonstrating an urge to move towards a generation that is recognized as global citizens.
While it’s clear that Gen Zs think and work differently compared to their older, and more established colleagues, it’s time for some employers to consider how they can keep their younger, more enthusiastic workers motivated and engaged as the world of work constantly changes.
Be Forward-Thinking
As a company, whether a small startup or even a major corporation, it’s important to be forward-thinking in your actions, not only to remain competitive in the marketplace but also to attract and retain the best possible staff.
For employers, this could mean getting caught up with the times and bringing onboard a host of newer and more innovative tools that not only streamlines the business operations but also makes it easier for younger workers to remain engaged and motivated.
Establish Interpersonal Relationships
While highly engaging tech is important, it’s been found that Gen Zers value interpersonal relationships a lot more in the workplace.
This would mean that employers will need to consider how they can establish a working and open relationship with their employees that will help work as a direct line of communication, a feedback loop, and help to narrow the gap between worker and boss.
A physical face-to-face relationship may not be all that possible in a massive company with hundreds of employees, but that’s where it becomes important to establish affinity groups where employees can engage with their supervisors and voice their opinions more frequently.
Offer Career Growth Opportunities
In a recent survey, it was found that roughly 37% of respondents stated personal growth and learning opportunities as some of their top priorities when job hunting.
This would mean that employers implement a structure by which they can help employees by offering them skill training, coaching, and mentoring.
Additionally, younger employees might be looking for something more hands-on, so giving them measurable tasks, with a feedback loop would help you as an employer better understand how employees are thinking and working with your customers, products, and services.
Employ Entrepreneurial Tactics
Gen Zers have higher spirits and attitudes when it comes to being their boss, or starting their own company one day.
This is a great opportunity to lean in towards employers, by offering Gen Zs a chance to take lead with projects, and at the same time rewarding them in appropriate ways.
It is a risk to run, but in most cases, Gen Zs are more connected with the online world, social media, and overall consumer trends, which can be beneficial for any business in the long run.
Diversity And Inclusion
By now we’re all well aware of how important societal challenges have become in the broader workplace, and in more recent years, Gen Z employees have made it their mission to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
As an employer that promotes inclusion or diversity, you’re actively showing your employees that you care about the challenges they have been working to resolve in recent years, and it’s helping to keep them more engaged in your company’s activities.
Final Thoughts
Workplace culture is changing, and it’s become more important for employers to realize how to work and adapt to the needs of younger, more diverse, and tech-savvy employees.
While there is no singular antidote that would work to help keep Gen Z employees engaged and constantly motivated, employers should consider how their company’s activities align with the new generation of the labor market.
Being adaptive, opening new channels of communication, establishing interpersonal relationships, and valuing inclusion are among the more important issues that Gen Z workers are looking for in their future employers.
As a business owner, take a few steps back and think about how well you can incorporate these elements to help attract and retain the best Generation Z has to offer.
Published First on ValueWalk. Read Here.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Pavel Danilyuk; Pexels; Thank you!
