Generation Z is making its way into the business world with tremendous strides, but are you managing members of this group to the best of your ability? Every generation is unique, so owners and operators must adapt their management styles to bring out the best in these new employees. Defined as any individual born after 1997, Gen Zers can be vastly different from Millennials. They’ve had separate sets of life experiences that molded them into the people they are today, which could also affect how they view companies and behave at work.
So, the question remains: What are the best tips for managing Generation Z employees in the workplace? Find out below to start increasing productivity and improving retention!
Managing Gen Z Employees in the Workplace
1. Hire the Ideal Gen Z Workers for Your Business
The oldest Gen Zers are in their late teens and early twenties, which means many of them are searching for entry-level positions that typically involve hourly pay. That’s great news for industries such as fast-food service, home health care, and retail, which rely on hiring young, energetic individuals.
However, it’s still crucial to be selective about who you hire. Onboarding employees quickly to save time can end up wasting more resources when workers don’t meet expectations. That’s why you should utilize tools such as Sprockets’ AI-powered platform with a sophisticated applicant matching system. It reveals which applicants are likely to succeed and stay long-term, ultimately improving retention and making it easier to manage Gen Z employees. It even includes free job postings to help augment sourcing efforts!
2. Maintain a Positive Company Culture
As with most generations, Gen Z is looking to work for businesses that cultivate positive company cultures. They’d like to enjoy the work they do and feel valued, which ultimately leads to higher productivity, better team morale, and more employee engagement with Gen Z workers. Take time to get to know your employees, request feedback on your management style, encourage diversity, and recognize hard work. (You can find even more ideas for creating Generation Z’s preferred work environment in our blog on 10 Tips for Creating a Positive Company Culture!)
3. Allow for Work-Life Balance
Similar to company culture, Gen Z employees also seek positions at businesses that allow them to maintain a work-life balance. As much as someone might love their job, it’s important to provide breaks, PTO, and flexible schedules so they can lead healthy lives outside of work hours. Otherwise, you risk burnout, reduced productivity, and even costly employee turnover.
4. Ease Health Concerns in the Workplace
As we mentioned earlier, every generation has unique life experiences that can influence their outlook and behavior. In this case, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely one of the most impactful events for Generation Z. In a Pew Research Center study conducted in March 2020, half of Gen Zers from age 18 to 23 stated that they, or a member of their household, had been financially affected by the pandemic. Another report by Deloitte explains that worries about health and finances are growing concerns among Gen Z. Make sure you implement processes that ease concerns around job stability and health — both physical and mental health.
5. Embrace Technology
Technology also plays a major role in the lives of Gen Zers, with smartphones and social media platforms at the forefront of their daily routines. It’s critical for managers to embrace this movement and use digital tools that improve the workplace environment. Check out our blog on How to Use HR Tech to Elevate Your Company Culture for some ideas.
Attract and Retain the Best Gen Zers With Sprockets
It makes a significant difference in managing and motivating Gen Z employees at work when you hire the best applicants from the start. That’s why we created Sprockets, an AI-powered platform that finds the ideal applicants based on a unique success profile for your business. It’s convenient, precise, and proven to work, helping users improve employee retention by an average of 43%.
See what our happy customers say about it, including owners and operators from top brands like McDonald’s, then schedule a demo to enjoy the same success!