How To Attract and Retain Gen Z in the Workplace

Gen Z are now beginning to enter the professional workforce, heralding a new era of office etiquette and workplace expectations. This has led to many employers wondering how to accommodate Gen Z in the workplace and what they can do to not only attract the best young workers, but keep them at a time when it's easier than ever to change jobs at short notice.

The 'Great Resignation' made clear how younger workers are willing to uproot their lives and change employment if they discover a better opportunity elsewhere. According to a study by Adobe, 56% of workers aged 18–24 have said that they are planning to switch jobs in the next year. This shows that Gen Z aren’t as tied to their employers as previous generations.

Differences Between Gen Z and Millennials

Gen Z is defined as the generation born between 1997 and 2012, so the elders are starting to enter the workforce. It’s been estimated that this generation will make up around 27% of the workforce by 2025, so it’s a good idea to start thinking ahead.

Millennials, on the other hand, are the generation before, identified as those born between 1981 and 1996. Millennials are set to account for over 70% of the workforce by 2025 and have typically paved the way for more flexible working and a better work-life balance. It’s also been reported that around 60% of this generation are open to new career opportunities, with around half of respondents surveyed revealing they’re not that loyal to current employers.

What Does Gen Z Expect From A Workplace?

Typically, millennials expect certain benefits from the workplace, including free breakfasts, staff drinks, team lunches and work socials. However, this doesn’t actually appeal to the younger generation in the same way. Where these social perks were once powerful attraction and retention tools, Gen Z is looking for more.

Knowing how to deal with Gen Z in the workplace is a point of contention for many managers and supervisors because they just don't know what matters to them most. There is more expectation to enact positive change and create a more respectful, beneficial environment.

Meaningful work

Rather than be given intern-level work on day one, Gen Z workers are much more willing to get stuck in and immerse themselves in a task or project. Many younger people in the workplace have gone to university, completed their internships and are now ready to enter the workplace as equals. Freelancing and 'hustle culture' means that work is easily accessible and this new generation isn't likely to shy away from it.

Respect and transparency

Respect is one of the most important things for Gen Z in the workplace, with the younger workers prioritising respect and good communication. This is a cross-generational expectation, encompassing the older Gen Z in the workplace as well as the younger millennials.

Transparency is also a crucial aspect for the younger workforce. Keep your employees in the loop regarding important company aspects, like business performance, industry performance and data. You want your team to believe in your business and rally behind it to create something meaningful — so let them know exactly what’s going on.

Progression

Being able to progress and develop as a professional is important to Gen Z employees and can be a significant point of consideration both when joining a company and when contemplating a change. For Gen Z in the workplace, it's essential to know that there are opportunities for progression, whether that be in the form of a promotion vertically or the chance to niche horizontally as a specialist.

With the rise of hybrid working arrangements, employees are no longer limited to companies in their local area. While previous generations were widely limited to the jobs in their area, Gen Z can easily work remotely, with many more opportunities to find progression elsewhere. They’re digital natives.

Work-life balance

When looking at how to accommodate Gen Z in the workplace, work-life balance should be near the top of your list. Again, this is related to the rise of hybrid working and the fact that many employees know that this balance is possible. If you can offer a degree of flexibility, such as a work-from-home allowance or flexible start/finish times, you’ll be much more attractive to job seekers.

Personalised experiences

A personalised experience is important as it's closely related to flexibility. An agile office space is a great way to address this point, creating different working areas within the office to help enable maximum productivity and cross-team collaboration. This flexible office design has become increasingly popular in recent years.

How To Accommodate and Retain Gen Z Employees

When looking at how to retain Gen Z workers, there are several adjustments that employers can make, from flexible working arrangements to mental health support.

Flexible working

Flexible working is a key attraction to Gen Z in the workplace, whether that's allowing for agile working within the office itself or offering a hybrid working model. More businesses are operating with flexible start and finish times, allowing employees to choose their own working day — outside of core business hours, of course. Many serviced offices also offer 24/7 access, so you and your employees aren’t bound by strict timings. This can help improve work-life balance amongst your employees, creating a happier, more productive workforce.

You should also consider how the office itself can be more flexible and agile. Create ‘zones’ in the space that accommodate various working styles for employees to pick and choose between. Large meeting rooms can provide a space to brainstorm ideas and work collaboratively, while communal sofas and coffee tables offer a respite from the working day, and a chance to catch up with employees. Individual ‘pods’ can also be created, providing a space for deep focus work, if that’s what employees prefer.

Known as activity-based working, this type of office space accommodates a range of working styles and personality types. This can, in turn, encourage teams to return to the office on a more full-time basis, increase productivity and even boost employee retention. After all, if your Gen Z workers feel listened to and catered for, they’ll be less likely to move elsewhere.

Collaboration

While having the right office space will naturally boost collaboration amongst teams and employees, it’s still important to have the right software to enable conversation for remote workers. You may have employees in other country if you’re operating on a global scale, which makes collaborative tools even more crucial. Software such as Slack, Asana and Microsoft Teams encourages conversation, providing the tools needed to perform and succeed.

These tools also allow your employees to feel like they’re part of something greater, rather than a cog in a machine. It also allows employees to stay connected with each other through the day, giving them a more accessible way to approach management teams for help and support if needed. This conversation should work both ways, however. Your senior management team take extra care to reach out to new hires, offer support and guidance and remain transparent on business matters.

Mental health support and wellbeing

There are several things you can do to improve your office experience. Mental health support, as well as having a well-being policy, will show prospective employees that you value them as an individual person. The recent mental health crisis, as reported by Swansea University, highlights that employers can do more to take on a more supportive role, linking mental well-being to productivity when in the office.

You may even consider how your office space makes people feel. For example, choosing a space with a rooftop terrace can ensure your teams can easily step outside for fresh air or have lunch in the sun. Or, a more biophilic office design brings the outside in, giving a much more natural feel to the space. It’s been reported that these types of offices can enhance mental and physical health, creating a much happier workforce.

Positive company values

Company values are visible to those looking in as well as those already present within the company. Whether it's how information is communicated, what steps are taken by the employer to care for its employees or something else entirely, these values are important to Gen Z in the workplace and will be a serious point of consideration for employees looking to join a company.

While you should listen to what your audience and target market is asking for, you also need to consider what your employees want and expect from you. Take the time to have open discussions and chats, and allow your employees to help you guide the direction of the company. Doing this can make them feel like they’re a part of the business, rather than an employee hired to do a job.

Office Spaces Suited to Gen Z

If you're concerned about how to cater to a Gen Z workforce, the Knight Frank team can help. Get in touch to find out more about choosing the right office space, and let our team pick a selection of offices that are best suited to your business and needs. We can support your search and negotiate the best deals for you.

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