Gen Z in the Workplace

The next generation to enter the workplace is Gen Z, and they are coming in strong. Baby Boomers are on their last leg in the workforce if they have not already left the chat to enter retirement. As Boomers are on their way out, Gen Z is coming in hot to take their place. The difference is, Gen Z is setting industry standards and boundaries, even though they are juniors in the workplace. From Millenials to Boomers, everyone is blown away by Gen Z and the changes they continue to make. 

To give a little background, Gen Z is the generation from 1997-2012, aged 24 to 9 years old. They are generation taking over TikTok and the internet, creating trends, and having one of the largest impacts on the current state of the world. This generation is highly sought after because they are the perfect target audience for everything; products, trends, and job opportunities.  

Shaking things up

Gen Z is highly admired because they are not afraid to shake things up, especially for their age and expertise in the workforce and life. Boomers were the generation to set the rules and precedents for workplace practices, including the workweek, the technology used, and the process of completing tasks and projects. Gen Z has not been afraid to fight back against outdated workplace precedents to create a better environment for everyone. 

Gen Z has been at the forefront of advocating for four-day work weeks and 35 hour weeks, a more inclusive company culture, and better approaches to task completion. Compared to Millenials and Gen X, Gen Z will not take job opportunities because of a distaste of company culture, disproportionate pay, or less PTO (and they will make it known). 

The job market is candidate-focused partially because of the effect Gen Z is having on the workforce. They will refuse jobs because companies will offer them better pay and benefits, with a better culture without the hassle. This generation is quick to turn down roles at large monopolies and tech companies because it goes against their values and what they stand for. Gen X and Millenials tend to ignore the clear red flags at companies and bite their tongue for salary and benefits, but Gen Z will vocally decline for those reasons. 

Low tolerance for inequality 

The most significant difference between Gen Z and other generations in the current workforce is standing up for inequalities and seeking justice. Large monopolies and tech companies sweep racism, unequal pay, misogyny, homophobia, and other injustices under the rug. As a collective, Gen Z has been amazing at turning down once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to serve justice for everyone. 

A survey conducted on Gen Z and the workplace concluded that “69% stated that they would ‘absolutely’ be more likely to apply to a job at a company that emphasized a racially and ethnically diverse workplace in recruitment materials.” This generation takes their values seriously, and it is a requirement in their place of work.