Half of Gen-Z Would Say They Would Leave Their Job if Not Given a Hybrid Work Option
2 out of 3 respondents say hybrid benefits mental health; Unfortunately, 53% say employers don’t seem prepared to implement it
New York, NY (August 4, 2021) -- Kettle, a flexible workspace technology company, completed a new study on Gen-Z and the future of the workplace in the era of the coronavirus. Kettle commissioned a survey of more than 1,000 U.S.-based Gen-Z employees who’ve recently entered the workforce. Key findings include:
Gen-Z Employees Prefer Hybrid
● Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents said the hybrid workplace, where you have the option to work in-person or remote, is “important” when considering a potential employer
“Beyond flexibility and choice, hybrid work helps employers deliver on several key Gen-Z values,” said Nick Iovacchini, CEO and Co-Founder of Kettle. “Work-life balance is a top incentive when looking for a job, as well as more inclusive and environmentally conscious companies. A hybrid workplace checks all of these boxes, allowing for more diversity in hiring while helping to reduce a company’s carbon footprint and optimize their use of physical space.”
● Nearly 70% (69%) said they would select an employer who offered a hybrid model over one who didn’t.
● Almost half (47%) of Gen-Z’s said if their employer mandated in-person work and didn’t provide hybrid or remote options, they would seek employment elsewhere.
● 2 out of 3 respondents (67%) said a hybrid workplace would benefit mental health and wellness.
● The top challenges of hybrid work overall were communication between remote and in-person employees
(28%), loss of company culture (14%) and ensuring remote employees are treated the same as in-person employees (13%).
“Our findings show that employees are eager to return to the office but enjoy the flexibility of hybrid,” said Iovacchini. “We’ve seen how a hybrid workplace helps to reduce stress levels, boost productivity and encourage a work/life balance. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health and hybrid helps to cut down on stressors making it a win-win for everyone.”
Are Business Leaders Prepared?
● 53% of respondents felt that employers are not prepared to implement hybrid models.
“It's critical that leaders are enabled to plan and know who is located where and when,” added Iovacchini. “With a proper framework and goals in place, leaders and teams can ensure there’s continuity between meetings on zoom, in person, or across mixed modalities. With this structure, team members can feel satisfied with their work-life balance and leaders will have support from their teams.”
Social Isolation is a Top Challenge in Remote Work
● In the study, Kettle found the biggest challenges that may come with working from home were social isolation (49%), distractions in the home e.g. childcare, pets (45%), difficulties collaborating with team members (39%) and lack of visibility by upper management leading to a fear of not being promoted (37%).
“Months of working from home has confirmed that although employees enjoy the flexibility, they may have feelings of social isolation,” added Iovacchini. “Social isolation can be detrimental to mental health so having the option to work in an office or a third workplace, like a cafe or hotel lobby can eliminate feelings of isolation and provide a convenient option for interaction with others in a creative space.”
