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9 Things Gen Z Employees Want Post-Pandemic

New research provides critical data for transgenerational collaboration.

by Grant H. Brenner, James R. DellaNeve and Santor Nishizaki

KEY POINTS

• COVID has accelerated emerging trends in Gen Z employment considerations.
• Gen Zers may appear paradoxical, wanting both higher support and more flexibility.
• In-person work environments are desirable at times, especially during onboarding and important conversation, but at other times are unwanted.
• Investing more resources up front is likely to set the right tone with Gen Z staff.

Gen Z–born after 1995–has grown up more egalitarian. They may call their parent’s friends by first name. They don’t automatically respect authority just because; you earn it. They don’t take things for granted, including the good-will of the powers that be–they’ve learned to be wary because of what’s gone before. They value authenticity–but it’s a moving target.

They are more precocious and more work due to changes in family structures and parenting, strong peer relations and tectonic identity politics. They are both more mature earlier (“parentified”) and also more anxious and vulnerable, needing support especially in a…