The Newest Hires: How to Integrate Gen Z into the Workplace

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(Newswire.net — October 6, 2023) —

It takes a village to recruit and retain the newest generation of workers into the workplace. Especially now, in a post-COVID world, businesses are struggling more than ever to hire, train, and retain Generation Z workers. Job transitions for this group of people are up 80% year over year, leaving many wondering what this means for the future of work.

There is no doubt that Generation Z is becoming a major force in the modern workplace. Over 30% of Gen Z 16 to 19 year olds currently work, more than their teenage millennial counterparts did at that age. Despite this eagerness to jump into the professional world, companies are still facing several challenges around Gen Z recruitment and retention. In fact, nearly 75% of hiring managers have revealed that Gen Z is the most difficult generation to deal with in the workplace. Because of these struggles, experts have worked to define three major reasons for these setbacks. First, the pandemic changed the state of the workforce forever, making it not as suitable and welcoming for younger people. Also, there has been some unnecessary friction in the workplace fueled by the media. Finally, career expectations between employees and their older employers are misaligned, as goals have shifted for the younger generations.

All of these issues have become reasons for higher turnover with Gen Z, and unfortunately are affecting businesses more than we know. Wasting precious time and money and putting the future of business in jeopardy, it is now time that we focus on what we can do to remedy these issues.

There are five main methods that experts have defined to keep Gen Z on payroll, the first of those being to establish clear expectations from the start. Clear expectations create a locus of control for Gen Z and contribute to higher levels of mental and emotional stability in the workplace. Similarly, fostering genuine transparency between employers and their employees is so important. This can relieve stress and ultimately eliminate any worry for what the future holds. In fact, over 50% of Gen Z say that they wouldn’t even accept a job that doesn’t offer salary transparency. Next, basic workplace respect is necessary. Gen Z is the generation that is currently facing the toughest mental health crisis to date. Therefore, respect and care for one another helps to build a foundation that makes everyone feel valued and understood. Making and maintaining meaningful connections is also very important in this effort, as the COVID-19 pandemic stripped most young people of many opportunities to do just that. Giving new hires the chance to meet and interact with people of all positions in the company allows them to feel more connected to the business and more comfortable in the office. Finally, intentional communication is a must, as information overload is far too common in young workers. Generation Z deserves clear and work-related communication at all times to help them learn and assimilate at a much more efficient pace.

Not only is it in their best interest, but it is also the responsibility of businesses to work with their new Gen Z hires. In order to successfully recruit and retain younger staff, they must learn to work in harmony and navigate generational differences that may be present. Facilitating these connections and treating them with the utmost importance will prove to be well worth it for both the employee and the employer in the long run.

What You Need To Recruit And Retain Gen Z
Source: Abode HR