From avocado toast to understanding the nuances of TikTok, navigating the next generations is no easy feat. While Millennials are already firmly entrenched in the workforce, Generation Z (Zoomers) is just getting started.
A common mistake that older generations make is to lump these two groups together. While they all seem young, you might be surprised to learn that the age gap spans 14 year-olds all the way to 40-year-olds. Clearly, the two generations have their differences.
The ongoing challenge posed by health and safety is always working out the best way to engage your workers and get high commitment from everyone in creating a safety culture. Knowing the different strengths and challenges each of the younger generations faces is critical to ensuring that we understand what the world of health and safety means to them.
Gone are the days where new workers are content to put their head down and toil at their desks 60 hours per week, knowing that in 5 years’ time, their efforts will be rewarded handsomely with a promotion and pay increase. These younger generations - and the significant global events they’re growing up in - now demand a collective overhaul of corporate norms and have a different approach to work-life balance.
While some might shake their heads at what appears to be a dwindling work ethic, it’s worthwhile understanding the perspective and what’s created a mindset shift for these generations, Gen Z in particular. They might be young - and unfortunately dancing in front of their phones in public places making TikToks - but their relentless focus on mental health and demand for flexible working to create a healthy work-life balance might just help us all.