Every generation has different ideas about how things should work, especially at work. Since the pandemic, things in the workplace have been flexible and unpredictable at best. As most workers get back to work and things start to level out, more and more Gen Z and Millennial workers are entering the workforce. They have their own ideas about what they will and won’t put up with. These are nonnegotiable in the workplace for a new driving force.
Remote Working
Remote working is something that Gen Z and Millennial workers are in full support of. During the pandemic, many watched their parents find remote options and stay at home. It became the normal way of life for many households. As more and more remote positions are being eliminated, the younger workforce is advocating to maintain their homework status.
Working 9 to 5
In previous generations, people worked banker hours unless they were in a career like retail or real estate with off hours. Millennials and Gen Z do not want to work banker hours and feel as if their creativity is best when they work when it is flowing. They advocate for a better work/life balance than they saw their parents achieve.
Organizational Structure
Older generations believed in the hierarchy of experience and management that flowed from the top down. Millennials and Gen Z want a more collaborative and inclusive type of work structure where everyone’s opinion and creativity are valued.
Casual Day
Our grandparent's generation would never have been okay with casual Fridays. They believed in dressing the part, which meant suits and ties Monday through Friday. Millennials and Gen Z don’t believe in the stuffy nature of a suit and tie and argue that if they are going to work eight hours a day, they are going to be more productive if they are wearing something less restrictive. They also believe that their clothes should be a part of the workplace culture.
Mental Health Checks
Back just a few decades ago, talking about mental health was not the sort of thing that you did in the workplace. Employers gave very little concern to the mental health of stability of their workers. Millennials and Gen Z workers are very focused on mental health and wellness. They also believe that everyone should have mental health days that they can take and free help and guidance attached to work for those who might be struggling.
Diversity
Millennials and Gen Z are the first workers to demand diversity in the workplace across the board. They are very in tune with racial issues, gender discrimination, and labeling and have no problem calling out employers who do not respect the freedoms that people should have for being who they are without being discriminated against.
Equality
Millennials and Gen Z workers are well past the era of women’s lib and probably have very little knowledge of how much women had to fight in the workplace to get ahead. They do see women and men as equals and expect that there won’t be any more “good old boys clubs” in the workplace or discrimination based on gender.
Environmentally Conscious
If there is one thing that Millennials and Gen Z workers care about it is having an environmentally friendly worksite. They believe in limiting their carbon footprint and want to be a part of organizations that take our Earth and its wellness seriously. They tend to gravitate toward companies that have policies in action to protect our environment over those that don’t.
Work-Life Balance
The new generation of workers is the first to have parents who considered things like work/life balance. In previous generations, you worked for a living and sucked it up and that was it. Many Millennials and Gen Z employees are not willing to sacrifice their free time or their relationships to get ahead. They are guided more by personal satisfaction than the numbers on a paycheck.
Anti-Bullying
Millennials and Gen Z employees are very sensitive to bullying in the workplace. For the first time, literature about how to be non-discriminative and acts of inclusion are a part of bulletin boards and spoken about openly in the workplace. There is also the belief that workers need to look out for one another.
Extra Curricular
Millennials and Gen Z don’t just want to work with their co-workers, they want to enjoy time outside of the workplace as a cohesive team to have fun and enjoy the relationships they build. They like to join organizations that have a culture of inclusion and a “family feel” where people get along.
Working Overtime
If there is one place where older generations and newer ones differ it is in the notion of working overtime. Millennials and Gen Z are very opposed to work taking any time in their personal lives. They would rather work on their own and remotely than be beholden to working more hours than they think are fair.
Company Culture
Many Millennials and Gen Z will weed through several companies in search of one that has a company culture that is in tune with their thoughts and personalities. They understand that work is necessary but if they are going to have to be somewhere, they want to enjoy it.
Several Jobs
Past generations started with a company and usually climbed the ladder to get their clock and retirement at the age of 65. It was not common for Baby Boomers to switch careers or even jobs frequently. Millennials and Gen Z have no problem switching jobs and careers. They feel as if life is too short and if you don’t like what you do, then do something else.
Personal Growth
Millennials and Gen Z see personal growth as an important part of a work position. The time that they spend at work usually has an impact on their well-being. They don’t just want a “job,” they want something that they are passionate about and feel connected to. If they aren’t growing as a person, they are ready to find a position where they can.
Micromanaging
Millennials and Gen Z workers do not want to be micromanaged. They find it highly offensive when someone is looking over their shoulder. They are looking for positions where they have a high degree of autonomy and decision-making skills.
Performance Reviews
Millennials and Gen Z workers see performance reviews as outdated and unnecessary. They want to get feedback continually instead of waiting an entire year to hear how they can improve their performance. Their desire to grow in a position means that they are looking to better themselves daily not annually.
Times Have Changed
Every generation does things slightly different than the one before. Millennials and Gen Z are completely turning the workplace on its ear. They value personal growth, are less guided by the numbers on a paycheck, and want a work/life balance that they can live with.
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