I encourage teams to have imaginary photo of the persona hanging on a boardroom wall and even go further and have a seat for the imaginary customer . Ask yourself , what would the customer say about your creatives , Marketing programs , website customer journey maps and key touchpoints ? instance , they want to work in companies that prioritize flexibility , healthy worklife balance and fun at work . According to a survey by Deloitte , 75 % of Gen Z respondents said that work-life balance was important to them , compared to 61 % of millennials and 57 % of Gen Xers .
HRM CHRONICLES
Gen Z Workplace Invasion : Which Way Forward ?
By Samson Osero
My punctuality habit continues to be an obsession . I was at Loshero Choma Zone one hour ahead of my friends , Angela and Daudi , for our monthly catch-up meeting . After they arrived and sat down facing me , I said : “ Good people , welcome ! I guess you are eager to first hear my views about the Shakahola massacres .” Angela , a veteran HR professional , interrupted and reminded us that one of our ground rules was not to talk about religion and spirituality . Instead , she suggested that we discuss the tribulations of generational divide in the workplace .
Daudi , a lecturer in political science , responded : “ Sure ! It is a frequently discussed topic , now that Gen Z ( born between midto-late 1990s and the early 2000s ) has invaded the labor market . Different age groups bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the working table .” A visibly happy Angela took the lead to point out that tension and misunderstandings had become the order of the day as the groups transacted and mingled . However , diversity and inclusion at the workplace is a good thing . It makes organizations have access to a wider range of views and ideas for innovation and success .
Assuming a know-it-all pose , I said : “ I do not know about you two , but I am worried about this new generation . They feel entitled . They do not want to work as hard as we did at their age .” As Angela nodded in agreement , I narrated situations where they think they know everything . Indeed , any workplace would experience a hard time getting Gen Zers to fit in with their organization culture .
Gesturing at me with humility , Daudi said : “ I do not think that is a fair characterization of Gen Z . They are not entitled . They just have different priorities than we did when we were employed .” He proceeded to explain differences between the world they grew up in compared to us . They are natives of smartphones , social media and other forms of technology .
When searching for job opportunities , Gen Zers are after organizations that appreciate their world with its peculiarities . For
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I encourage teams to have imaginary photo of the persona hanging on a boardroom wall and even go further and have a seat for the imaginary customer . Ask yourself , what would the customer say about your creatives , Marketing programs , website customer journey maps and key touchpoints ? instance , they want to work in companies that prioritize flexibility , healthy worklife balance and fun at work . According to a survey by Deloitte , 75 % of Gen Z respondents said that work-life balance was important to them , compared to 61 % of millennials and 57 % of Gen Xers .
Angela , who seemed to agree with Daudi quipped : “ I think we need to be open to the new perspectives that Gen Z brings to the table . They are more tech-savvy than we are . They have a different approach to work that can be very valuable to progressive organizations .”
Sensing that the duo had taken up a common front , I said : “ We need to be careful about giving in to Gen Z demands for work-life balance and flexible schedules . I have always believed that hard work is the key to success .” The moment a work environment does not cherish work ethic , it would be courting loss in productivity . Employees may not focus on achieving agreed work objectives which require hard work .
As if I had stepped on his hurting toe , Daudi raised his voice : “ I do not think organizations will suffer from decreased output . It is just that the definition of hard work has changed .” He put up a fierce defense for Gen Z whose perspective of hard work is not like mine . They consider being productive as getting things done efficiently and not necessarily working long hours . I was still not convinced but for the sake of keeping the discussion ongoing I kept silent .
In support of Angela , Daudi told me : “ Do not forget that technology is changing the way we work . With remote work and
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