May 2025
‘Generation Beta’ is already upon us, although some are criticizing the labeling of this newborn generation as hasty and reckless for its potential to create workplace stereotypes. Gen Z for instance, was initially celebrated as socially conscious digital natives, only to then be pigeonholed as entitled quiet-quitters. Successful leaders will look past media perspectives and marketing logic and recognize that issues like wage stagnation, workplace flexibility, and AI disruption affect all workers and are more important than birth years. (Fortune)
The traditional annual performance review is losing relevance among Gen Z workers, who grew up in an environment of instant likes, comments, and algorithms. Fully 37% of Gen Z employees abandon tasks they cannot perform independently, necessitating a restructuring of the top-down performance review, with a focus towards more continuous, participatory strategies that allow for future planning. (Forbes)
Small business owners are employing their children twice as much as they did in 2018. Fully 42% of small business owners will hand over their business in the next five years and 28% of them plan to transfer it over to their children. This is not always out of necessity, but also out of genuine excitement and a search for meaning. In order to keep business booming, families should formalize training, be clear about boundaries and expectations, and have the necessary conversations that drive work forward. (The Wall Street Journal)
Gen Zers in Australia are leading the movement of quitting without another job lined up, with 49% of them jumping ship compared to the 39% national average. Usurping salary as the biggest concern—which fell from 93% last year to 79% this year—work-life balance is now the primary driver of quitting amongst young Australians at 83%, indicating widespread disillusionment with traditional job structures. (Yahoo Finance)
The perception of those who use GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic) for weight loss is underscoring the fact that appearance bias is still very much present in the workplace. One in five women report feeling more respected after losing weight, but this newfound respect does not necessarily equate to career advancement. Employers may consider mentioning the social effects of GLP-1s when designing inclusivity training for employees. (Worklife)
Education gaps, low wages, and an aging workforce are all factors contributing to the reality that manufacturing jobs are not being filled despite their abundance. Today’s manufacturing jobs often require a bachelor’s degree or two years of training and then might only pay $10 an hour. These companies should consider rebranding the culture with smart advertisements and invest in apprenticeships and community partners in order to widen the talent pipeline. (NPR)
Gen Zers are 1.7% more likely to avoid management roles than previous generations, primarily to aid their mental health and to maintain work-life balance. As workers have become more autonomous and purpose-driven, flatter hierarchies are proving to be more than a trend. Employers who adapt to this cultural shift in the workplace will be better positioned to hire and retain talent. (Business Insider)