The eldest of the generation born between 1997 and 2012 took their first steps into the workforce at the peak of the pandemic. Around 60% of employers have fired them from the workplace this year. Experts explain why the generation is having a tough time holding onto their jobs.
There was always a belief among businesses that hiring younger folks was the best way to bring in new talent. Young employees tend to bring fresh perspectives, a high level of adaptability to new technologies and a strong willingness to learn, which can drive positive change and revitalize a company’s culture. But nowadays, a new perspective is emerging: some companies are starting to question the value of investing in Generation Z employees.
A recently published survey—which involves over 900 executives—revealed that 75% of employers are dissatisfied with the work performance of such new hires. The study has also highlighted that 6 in 10 businesses admitted to quickly firing at least one person from this specific age group despite having recruited them since the start of this year.
According to Intelligent.com (an education and career advice website and commissioner of the review), “nearly two-thirds of hiring managers surveyed believed that recent college graduates are entitled and 63% think they get offended too easily.” The respondents also believe their post-grad new hires lack motivation (50%) and professionalism (46%) and have poor communication skills (39%).
It’s understandable that older generations often comment on how Gen Z doesn’t seem too keen on putting in the effort to reach their goals. While it’s easy (and tempting) to attribute this challenge to generational stereotypes like laziness, entitlement, or immaturity, career coaches and researchers say that the issue is much more complicated than that. In order to truly understand why Gen Z is having a hard time staying employed, it’s crucial to take a step back and consider the factors that have shaped this generation’s mindset and outlook on life.
1. A Perceived Lack of Motivation
Gen Z grew up during the 2008 financial crisis. They are also experiencing the disruptive, lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. When layoffs, pay cuts and job insecurity became all too common, they witnessed firsthand the profound impact these catastrophic events had on their parents’ lives.
Given the circumstances, these younger adults harbor doubts about traditional career paths because they’ve had a birds-eye view of how often hard work didn’t always pay off. As a result, they tend to take a cautious approach to how they navigate their professional lives. However, this is attributed to a sense of self-preservation, not idleness or complacency.
Nevertheless, according to a report from Deloitte, due to Gen Z seeing so much instability within the job market – as well as companies that seem to take advantage of everything in their path – they highly value companies that demonstrate a genuine concern for both the world and their employees.
2. They Speak a Different Language
Another factor impacting workplace challenges faced by Gen Z is communication. Despite being referred to as digital natives, having grown up in a world dominated by social media and text-based correspondence, they may not possess strong interpersonal skills in conventional work settings. On that account, they could find it difficult to engage in certain interactions like face-to-face conversations.
A recent article from Harvard Law School explains that, unlike previous generations, Gen Z individuals began their careers at the start of the work-from-home boom, an era where, at first, sending quick texts replaced the need for traditional team meetings. During this time, the behavior was considered acceptable and comfortable (and more natural for Gen Z), but it eclipsed valuable office Facetime, a crucial aspect of career development. When remote work eventually pivoted to more audiovisual conversations, the shift left Gen Z feeling unprepared for industries where meetings, presentations and in-depth teamwork are the norm.
This expectation for Gen Z to conform without any room to breathe creates a major communication gap that leads to all sorts of issues like misunderstandings, mistakes and even the false perception that they are disengaged when, quite possibly, they are simply interfacing in a distinctly different style.
3. They Refuse to Adopt an All-Work-No-Life Mindset
Perhaps the greatest reason why Gen Z may be experiencing difficulties in maintaining employment is their rejection of a traditional work culture that emphasizes being available 24/7 and allowing oneself to be completely consumed by their job.
For older generations, career success has long been tied to excessive work and unrestrained sacrifice. The millennials’ “hustle culture” for example, glorified the notion of working long hours, weekends and holidays to get ahead, but Gen Z seems to have a different perspective. They desire more than just a paycheck; they seek a balance between work and personal life, a sense of purpose, and fulfillment that extends beyond their employment.
An additional Deloitte study from 2023 reveals that 50% of Gen Z respondents say work-life balance is a top priority when they are considering a job. It doesn’t automatically mean they are lazy or overindulged. They know the importance of personal well-being, good mental health, setting boundaries, and taking time for themselves and they aren’t afraid to prioritize them over career advancement. Plus, this generation is all about speaking their minds, so for these reasons, they are less inclined to tolerate toxic work environments and are more likely to leave a position that fails to meet their expectations.
This can be a bit of a shock to those older colleagues and team leaders who typically expect employees to outperform and overachieve, even to their own detriment.
The Bottom Line
It’s important to understand that the workplace challenges faced by Gen Z are not entirely their fault. They’ve grown up in a world that is evolving at lightning speed, one where the old promises and rewards of job security and career advancement don’t always ring true. As a result, their language is informal and concise, they are deeply socially conscious and prioritize making a positive impact on society, and they have realized that there’s more to life than just grinding away for institutions that don’t value their efforts.
Having said that, it isn’t fair to label Gen Z as a “bad generation” of workers because they’re getting let go from their jobs.
The truth is, they’re clashing with outdated work systems that haven’t kept up with the times and failed to adapt to their needs.
