Companies Struggle With Their Youngest Employees

While it may seem that Gen Z has only recently entered the workplace, The Wall Street Journal reported that this demographic is expected to outnumber baby boomers in the U.S. workforce this year.

And as the paper noted, if only their bosses could understand them.

In a 2023 survey, nearly three-quarters (74%) of business leaders said Gen Z is more difficult to work with than previous generations. Gen Z employees often lack technological skills, effort and motivation, business leaders said in the Resume Builder survey. 

Meanwhile, companies are trying to accommodate Gen Z employees by providing guidance on how to communicate and offering new kinds of perks, such as on-site therapists.

Some companies are providing mentoring for Gen Z employees who completed internships or entered the workforce remotely during the pandemic. Many younger workers missed out on the side-by-side learning that might have helped them acclimate and thrive in new jobs. Now, with hybrid schedules, many Gen Z employees still lack strong relationships at work, the Journal reported. 

In June, dozens of board members from public companies gathered in Palo Alto, Calif., to discuss the challenges of working with Gen Z employees. Christine Heckart, chief executive of Xapa, a professional development app for Gen Z, told the audience that younger generations expect meaning, mentorship and a sense of purpose, or else “they check out pretty quickly.” 

Her message didn’t go over well. One board member in attendance asked why any of those things should be the company’s responsibility. 

Laura Fuentes, a Hilton executive, said that Gen Z and millennial employees are simply more vocal about what they want. 

Maria Amato, a senior partner with the consulting firm Korn Ferry, advises companies not to base workplace approaches purely on generational differences. Older employees might want many of the same things, such as more flexibility and career development opportunities, she said.