June 2024
Younger generations often find unplanned phone calls intrusive, rude, or downright concerning. While calling is the norm for Gen X and Boomers, 16% of Gen Z think the phone is an unproductive form of professional communication. Forming protocols for knowing when to text or call can help set clear expectations. (The Wall Street Journal)
Workers are moving their mouse to maintain an “online” status and scheduling emails for off-hours in order to appear engaged, even during their summer vacation. Fully 83% of U.S. employees say that America glorifies being busy, and 63% are dissuaded from taking time off due to the purported consequences of not being available. Employers may consider flexible PTO arrangements to avoid burnout and increase productivity. (Fortune)
Poor leadership from managers is dissuading Millennials and Gen Zers from climbing the corporate ladder. Younger workers want more meaning and autonomy in their careers, but face outdated management practices that lack the interpersonal relationships needed to foster growth. Managers should take an inquiry-led approach in order to discover what would make positive impacts on their employees. (FastCompany)
Gen Zers are breaking company rules twice as much as Boomers, but also reporting workplace misconduct twice as much. As organizations deny Gen Zers employment due to age bias, they risk losing relevant skills and fresh perspectives. Leaders would do well to create safe spaces that allow all ages to adapt to the current work climate and remain productive. (Newsweek)
While Gen Z may be more vocal about needing time off, Millennials have a propensity for “quiet vacationing,” or taking paid time off without formal consent. A recent poll found that 78% of Americans did not use all of their available PTO in a year, but just as many said that they wish they could have. To help Millennial employees find relief from the pressure of being constantly available, employers should foster an environment that encourages conversation about vacation time. (Business Insider)
Middle managers accounted for 30% of all layoffs in 2023, and “unbossing” has increased 10% since 2018. As organizations attempt to flatten the hierarchy and provide a more direct line of communication to customer-facing employees, managers must strike a balance between “leader” and “supervisor” to Gen Z workers who started their career in the hybrid landscape. (Worklife)
Gen Z is giving credit to their parents for landing jobs, and a quarter of them are even bringing parents along to interviews. While 83% of recently employed Gen Zers attribute their success to some degree of parental guidance, 26% of those parents who tagged along actually sat in for the interview, raising concerns among employers about the younger generation’s independence and competence. (ResumeTemplates)
Despite the fact that TikTok’s existence in the U.S. hangs in the balance, 15% of Gen Zers received offers from jobs they found on the app. Companies like large-scale retailers and restaurants are providing opportunities that cater to the app’s usership. As social media job landing becomes more commonplace, users are advised to assess the authority and reliability of their source. (CNBC)