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Are Gen Z really as unprepared for the workforce as the media claims? If not, what can they do to prove they are not?
‘Often characterized as being lazy, arrogant, unreliable, and cynical, Generation X is considered to be anything but team-oriented.’ 1999
‘Millennials have been dubbed the most ‘impatient generation’ in the workplace, with over 90 percent wanting ‘rapid career progression.’ Almost 70 percent of employers believe that this level of ambition and desire is the leading cause of conflict between generations.’ 2019
‘Gen Z…workers are criticized for having too many rules, refusing to comply with corporate demands, being oppositional and lacking etiquette, reliability and flexibility.’ 2024
These quotes are from articles in popular business titles, and a bit of Google searching will find many more. The headlines about Gen Z are nothing new, and Gen Z are no more unprepared (or prepared) than previous generations were. It seems there is always generational conflict in the workplace!
Why is there conflict?
So what’s going on? I think it’s a few things.
Older people can be more cynical
Many folks in midlife have weighty responsibilities at work and home, and struggle to remember what it was like to be in the early years of their career. It’s easier to criticize younger colleagues than embrace their fresh perspectives.
However, Gen Zs should note that while mid-career professionals may seem cynical, they bring valuable experience and insights that younger workers can learn from.
Like every generation, younger professionals are still learning the ropes
Younger people can be naive about what’s achievable in a workplace, or so keen to drive change that it comes across as disrespectful. It also takes time to learn the soft-skills that are so important in work.
Nonetheless, older folks need to note that Gen Z have a lot to offer: fresh perspectives on purpose and values in the workplace, a willingness to innovate and try out new business models, confidence with new tech, and more.
There are real differences
There are also real differences between generations in the workplace.
How we communicate is an obvious example. Baby Boomers will have started their careers before email was commonplace, but many Gen Xers will be fixated on email as the best means of communication.
Millennials and Gen Zs, meanwhile, may prefer instant messaging, but be markedly more afraid of making a phone call (the Boomers preferred way of communicating!). All of this affects how well we collaborate with each other.
This is just one instance of how changing preferences and skills can be a source of intergenerational conflict in the workplace. Other more contentious examples include expectations around working hours, hierarchy, mental-health, etiquette, and identity.
