Gen Z’s biggest workplace problems have been revealed, and it’s bad news for bosses who thought the younger generation would be into office TikTok.
Nothing infuriates the TikTok generation more than being asked for help with social media, especially if it means appearing on camera.
Speaking to FEMAIL, people and talent adviser Matt Berry-Hewitt revealed that the younger generation of Australian workers have some very specific workplace issues.
But five aspects stand out as the main disincentives, including having to work overtime and having someone comment on your lunch choice.
People who decide to go to work sick and are told to turn on their cameras for Zoom meetings round out the top five.
And while the list may leave baby boomer, Gen X and even millennial bosses blank, Berry-Hewitt says workplaces should adapt to meet the expectations of younger workers.
Generation Z will make up 58 percent of the workforce by 2030, so bad habits need to go, he explained.
The expert explained in detail every aspect of the situation and how to change old habits to make Generation Z feel more comfortable.
Gen Z workers hate it when people assume they want to engage with the office TikTok
I was asked to appear on TikTok
Many Gen Z employees say they are irritated by colleagues who ask them to participate in company social media content, Berry-Hewitt said.
Bosses should allow Gen Z employees to set these boundaries.
“If you ask a staff member to join a TikTok and they say no, you should respect that no and move on,” she said.
Adding that nine out of ten members of Generation Z have felt social awkwardness at work at some point.
“Look for volunteers to film on social media and avoid more camera-shy employees,” she suggested.
Judging Your Food Choices
According to Berry-Hewitt, Gen Z simply won’t tolerate comments about food.
‘A quarter of them follow a meat-free diet and another 26 percent intend to eat a more plant-based diet in the future, which is significantly higher than any other age group,’ she explained.
For the TikTok generation, accepting others’ food choices is non-negotiable, even if you don’t approve of them or it means putting up with people eating tuna at work.
“If a workplace has a dining area divided into sections, this shouldn’t be an issue,” Berry-Hewitt said.
Have cameras on for Zoom meetings
The expert said that 35 percent of Gen Z women prefer casual wear over any other clothing.
“So it’s no surprise that another recurring issue is users being asked to turn on their cameras when participating in a Zoom or Teams call,” he said.
Although 80 percent of workers of all ages prefer their virtual meeting partners to keep their cameras on, he explained.
“There’s added pressure on younger workers to turn on their cameras and appear more trustworthy,” he said.
The expert said having a camera on helps show that you are interested in what is happening and improves engagement with others.
“Having my camera on helps me connect with the audience and gauge how well they understand what I’m saying. If your employee is on a call, there needs to be a level of trust established that your staff is listening,” he said.
Younger generations hate having to turn on their cameras in meetings.
Overtime expectations
A common complaint from Gen Z employees is being labeled as “part-timers” for arriving and leaving the office exactly on time, the expert explained.
She added that a recent study revealed that 77 percent of Gen Z prioritize having a healthy work-life balance, with a particular focus on working smarter, not harder.
“If someone says ‘no’ to being expected to work overtime without additional pay, that’s a bad workplace culture for expecting that from staff, not a bad employee for refusing it,” she said.
More experienced colleagues can avoid falling into this trap by focusing on productivity and tasks completed rather than hours logged.
Working while sick
According to HR expert, Gen Z and millennial workers are less likely to show up to work when they are not feeling well.
And they’re more likely to call in sick to work after showing symptoms of a minor illness, like a cold.
Older generations have been shown to be less conscious of the spread of germs in the office and are happy to show up and share their cold with the team.
“If a colleague says they’re sick and they’ve come into the office anyway, most people will wonder why, especially in an environment that justifies working from home. In a post-Covid world, no one wants to be around someone who’s sick,” Berry-Hewitt said.
The expert said that Generation Z “is confident about what they want from their career and how they would like their workplace culture to be shaped.”
“As they become the dominant force in the workplace, companies will have to learn to adapt to these new expectations or lose great talent,” he said.
He warns that Gen Z workers also need to be patient.
“Companies are not going to magically change and adapt overnight.”
Mr Berry-Hewitt revealed these findings for Furniture at work.