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Home Opinion The 5 things Gen Z want from work
What Gen Z wants from their workplace

The 5 things Gen Z want from work

by Uma Rajagopal
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The 5 things Gen Z want from work 

 

By Bukki Adedapo, UK Country Manager at Fiverr

Businesses are preparing and evolving as a new generation of headstrong Gen Z workers begins to enter the workforce. This new cohort of employees are demanding a new way of working and are making these demands known to the businesses they work for. So what does Gen Z want from work right now and how can businesses adapt to meet these expectations and demands? 

Clear Boundaries

Since the pandemic, most people have come to expect a large degree of flexibility from their work. Unsurprisingly, Gen Z expects no different. They want flexibility in their profession and believe that this should be the standard. However, interestingly, this doesn’t just mean that they want remote work; a recent Fiverr study discovered that 44% of UK Gen Z agree that flexible working hours are among the top three priorities when choosing roles. Positions that confine them to the traditional 9 to 5 schedule, with a poor work-life balance are no longer appealing for this new generation. Gen Z believes that they will thrive if they are given a strong degree of autonomy within their jobs.

Having the freedom to establish clear boundaries at work, and being strong-willed enough to stick to them is more crucial than ever in an ‘always-on’ world, where everyone is immediately contactable through an instant message or an email. We will continue to see a pushback against the traditional working culture of being always available over the next few months as people experience burnout and the economic crisis continues to worsen. It’s up to bosses and employers to give employees the opportunity and headspace to switch off and avoid burnout.

Positive work culture 

This young generation of workers are choosing to work for organisations with a positive workplace culture, with the aim of feeling at ease and appreciated at work, which ties into their wider expectations of a healthier work-life balance. It goes without saying that employees perform at their best when they collaborate with individuals they enjoy being around. Building an inviting atmosphere for employees and giving opportunities for staff to interact socially will be key to attracting and retaining Gen Z workers.

Purpose Driven, Ethical Work 

Often perhaps unfairly labelled as the ‘woke generation’, Gen Z really cares about doing what is right and ethical, not only in their lives, but also their jobs. In Fiverr’s recent survey of 2,000 UK Gen Z respondents, nearly a third responded to say that their work ethic is motivated by passion. The companies that want to recruit and retain Gen Z staff will need to visibly demonstrate their DE&I initiatives, as well their positive attitudes towards corporate and social responsibility

It’s apparent that Gen Z shows a preference towards companies that demonstrate they care about their employees and society as a whole over businesses that do not. Currently, their general sense of what is important for society at this time includes climate change measures, and they naturally expect their workplaces to mirror these views. It has been found that when searching for a job, 82% of young people in the UK prioritise companies whose values and goals align with their own, which feeds into the wider trend of climate quitting – younger workers voting with their feet on employer’s ESG commitments – that we’re currently seeing. Managers should at the very least be attempting to understand the driving forces of younger employees and aim to give them projects or responsibilities that align with their passions.

Fair and Generous Compensation 

It’s challenging for Gen Z workers to enter the workforce given the present economic climate. According to a recent study from Deloitte, more than a quarter of Gen Z fear that they won’t be able to retire comfortably, with 46% living pay check to pay check. Recognising the current cost-of-living crisis and its associated economic challenges, Gen Z is (rightly so) demanding to be compensated fully and fairly. And as a result of their pursuit of skill development, Gen Z expects frequent income increases that reflect the economy and their value within a business. 

Outside of a fair wage they also expect  a generous holiday allowance, and a number of benefits and perks. These can range from gym memberships, to healthcare, and tech equipment. If firms can’t provide these then they can expect Gen Z workers to vote with their feet in search for roles that do. 

Skill development

Employment is no longer seen as a lifelong mission. Young workers are not content sticking with the same company, career, or role for years on end, especially if they do not follow the requirements outlined above. As a result, individuals are hungry to learn and upskill as much as possible so that they can advance either within their own organisation, or potentially look to move on to pastures new – whether that be with a new company, or increasingly, via freelancing or self-employment. Employers must provide sufficient learning opportunities, possibilities for networking, and training for Gen Z employees.If employers can follow these guidelines and hit the criteria outlined above, they will create the conditions for Gen Z to thrive in the workplace. In research conducted by the UK Department for Education, it was found that 46% of start-ups in the tech sector cite hiring challenges and a shortage of qualified employees as their top two concerns for this year. Therefore, it’s also in these businesses’ best interest to prioritise skill development, with an eye on the labour market and the young workers that will shape the future of the workforce.

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