Is your company struggling with cracking the code on what makes Gen Z tick? Your company is likely facing this challenge, and it’s probably been more difficult this time around than it was with Millennials. Not only because Gen Z is a more complex group, but because the circumstances under which they are entering the workforce (the COVID-19 pandemic)- are unlike anything the workforce has experienced before.
However, the one thing every company should be aware of that could help ease the situation is that
62% of Gen Z employees enthusiastically embrace virtual social events, and go on to say these events have had a positive impact on their company culture during the pandemic. In fact, they led the way followed by every other generation in descending order - Millennials (59%), GenX (57%), Boomers (52%).
It’s more than virtual mixology classes and happy hours, though. As more members of Gen Z join the workforce, companies and their HR departments might want to consider not only doubling down on virtual social experiences to include events that are also focusing on activism, inclusion, and mental health. Here are some of the things that Gen Z employees are clamoring for.
Anti Racism & DEI Workshops Top the List
While it was shocking to learn that more than
70% of employees have experienced discrimination in the workplace and that it has impacted their productivity, engagement, or performance, the alarm bells really sounded when 86% of Gen Z - who only started entering the workforce a couple of years ago - have already experienced discriminatory issues or abusive behavior in the workplace.
There’s a lot of work for today’s workforce to do when addressing these issues, and it starts with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training. Unfortunately, 47% of all respondents have either not been offered (28%), or have not participated in (19%), diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training at their company, which means it’s time for companies to make it a top priority.
For companies that already have a handle on DEI, Gen Z is eager to level up to courses on anti-racism, which have been a popular offering through our platform. Beyond the basics about DEI, anti-racism courses help employees normalize the hard conversations about race and racism and provide important tools for employees to become advocates and take action. Considering how Gen Z has been treated in the workplace so far, it’s easy to understand why it is so important.
Activism at Work is the New Black
When
one of our surveys revealed that 56% of workers said they would feel more engaged and productive at work if their companies focused on activism and other social issues, we weren’t entirely surprised. This is because the activities we offered around Earth Day in 2021 were so well attended, especially by Gen Z workers.
Ten Spot offered three key sessions the week of Earth Day for our customers so that their employees could become educated in sustainable living best practices that included:
- Sustainability Buzzwords: What Do They Mean, Why Should I Care
- 10 Simple Sustainable Ideas To Do While Working From Home
- Zero Waste Life Hacks
At the end of the week, these sessions could be capped off with a company-wide, interactive Earth Day trivia session that could be offered as a midday break or an after-work event to find out how much colleagues learned about the Earth, its species, resources, and threats. Of course, offering some cool individual and team prizes is a great way to get the competitive juices flowing.
Gen Z Cares About Mental Wellbeing and Health
When we ran a survey last year and asked workers across the country which types of virtual workshops they wanted the most, the most requested topics from Gen Z focused on mental wellbeing and health.
Mental health, stress management, and more are all very top of mind and resonate with all of our customers, but – Gen Z appears to be the most eager and open when it comes to addressing their mental health. Still, the topic has gained popularity across generations during the pandemic. A wide range of meditation sessions, anxiety, and stress management workshops are available to companies and workers. We also provide access to our partners, such as Whil, a mindfulness and resilience tool that offers guided sessions that cover employee health, performance, and relationships in as little as five minutes.
