Five key steps | Employers are struggling to understand Gen Z - here's where to start

An enigma to many employers, Gen Z has come into the working world with all guns blazing. They’re demanding their employer lives up to ESG promises, provides benefits at a competitive rate, prioritises staff wellbeing, and provides them with appropriate flexibility.

As a result, this generation has been labeled as demanding, out of touch, and difficult to work with. Yet, this generation aren’t choosing to be this way, they have been socialised to expect and want certain things. And their unique experiences – like entering the working world in a pandemic – have coloured their perception of working life.

Employers must aim to understand that this generation, like every other generation before them, is unique. And instead of scrutinising characteristics associated with those at the beginning of their career, attempt to find ways to understand them – this will be a need-to-have skill considering this generation is set to make up over a quarter of the UK workforce by next year.

Where can you start?

It can be difficult to know where to start with understanding the younger members of your workforce, especially if your firm has thousands of members of staff of differing ages and backgrounds. Here are a few pointers to consider if wanting to better engage these employees...