Gen Y, Gen Z, Millennials, Baby Boomers, Traditionalists. We are constantly trying to classify people within a similar age group because they share many of the same experiences, attitudes, and values. Assigning nomenclature to categorize populations can be helpful in conducting studies, but when it comes to basic human needs, research has shown that the various generations are more united than divergent. The needs to be heard, feel supported, grow and develop, connect and socialize, and of course the need to disconnect permeates across all generations. This filters over to the workplace environment, and it is how we seek to address these needs that may differ across groups. One individual may say they can only focus in an office, another only with headphones in a busy coffee shop. The basic needs are the same; how they are solved is where the uniqueness exists. Nevertheless, the next few years will see five generations existing simultaneously within one workplace and it helps to understand the next cohort to join the ranks.
The next generation of workers to enter the workforce is Gen Z, also referred to as “iGen.” Born into the digital age between 1996 to 2012, this generation has never known a time without modern technology. Much speculation has been made about how Gen Z will embrace the workplace, and what changes the workplace will undergo to support them.
At Ted Moudis Associates, we had the opportunity of having Gabrielle Mastropolo work within our Workplace Strategy department. As a self-identified Gen Z-er, she shared with us her unique insights into what can be expected from Gen Z, and, just as important – what they expect from their employers.
It Used to be All About Millennials…
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Before we can grasp where the workplace is headed with Gen Z, we must first understand the shift in the traditional workplace that occurred with Gen Y, colloquially known as “Millennials.” Born between 1981-1996, Millennials entered the workforce around 2003 with a clear understanding of what they wanted, and expected, from their company. Growing up partially surrounded by technology and the internet, Millennials are very comfortable in the mobile, tech-based work environments we see today. With this increased flexibility in where, when, and how one can work, Millennials are more likely to blend their professional and personal lives. This blend of professional and personal instigated the shift in the workplace to be a place of both individual work tasks and social, collaborative, and fun activities. A strong and vibrant culture is valued highly across the demographic. With movement and different types of activities within the workplace increasing, workplace strategists and designers implemented a variety of activity-based workspaces to better accommodate the need for a vibrant culture and teamwork within the work environment.