As workplaces struggle to figure out Gen Y, Gen Z arrives in the office

Just as employers are starting to finally figure out what Millennials want in the workplace, along comes their younger cohort with a slightly different set ofstyles and attitudes, a new study shows.

A report from Randstad Canada suggests Generation Z, (those ages 16 to 20), are even more entrepreneurial than Generation Y (ages 21 to 34), and more driven by career advancement than money. Gen Z is also more interested in face-to-face communication, says the study called From Y to Z: A guide to the next generation of employees.

“While you may have been distracted by watching Gen Y-ers firmly establish themselves in the workplace as a force to be reckoned with, you might have missed the tide of a new generation moving up right behind them,” says Faith Tull, Randstad Canada’s senior vice president of human resources.

The next generation of workers does have many similarities to Gen Y, such as being socially engaged and tech savvy, “but we can’t assume they have the same motivations, work styles or even goals,” says Tull.

The survey suggests Gen Z is slightly more interested on finding a workplace that gives back to the community (87 per cent) compared to Gen Y (79 per cent). Gen Z is also more frugal, future-centric and communicates well with pictures, while Gen Y communicates more with text, the report suggests.

Tull says the two generations come from different historical and social backgrounds, which has an impact on their outlook of the world and the workplace.

“In today’s diversified employment market, it is important for employers to understand what motivates and inspires both Gen Y and Gen Z,” says Tull. “By knowing what drives this emerging group of workers, organizations can shape their talent attraction strategies and position themselves as an employer of choice.”

There are many similarities among the two generations, the report notes. For instance, both feel strongly about finding a company that fosters cultural, economic, religious and professional diversity as well as gender equality.

The study cites as an example the overwhelming reaction to a speech Gen Y actor Emma Watson gave about gender equality before the United Nations in the fall of 2014.

“It went viral, not because she’s a film star, but because of the audience,” the report states. “This rallying appeal to diversity, harmony and inclusiveness resonated strongly with Gen Y and Gen Z. In our study, these generations expressed a strong preference for co-workers who demonstrate diverse professional backgrounds and for a workplace where both genders are represented.”

The survey, based on an Ipsos Reid poll of 1,200 Canadians ages 16 to 34, also shows young Canadians are looking for a range of benefits from their employers, such as health insurance, flexible working hours and training and development.

When it comes to methods of communication, a surprising 45 per cent said they believed the most effective way to communicate is in-person, compared to 26 per cent who said email and 11 per cent who said telephone.

"While one would assume Gen Z would prefer instant messaging over any other method, they are actually more interested in face-to-face communications (47 per cent) than Gen Y (43 per cent)," the report states.

What’s more, the study shows that 41 per cent of respondents said communication was the most important quality in someone leading the company they work for. The reports chalks that up to a generation that has grown up in an age of communication, from traditional TV and radio to video streaming sites or Twitter.

“Employers who effectively meet their desire to be heard and actively involved will have the edge in keeping Gen Y and Gen Z engaged and eager to return to work each day,” says Tull.