When you ask different age groups what helps them achieve job satisfaction, their answers vary significantly. For some, high salaries and financial security are at the top. Career growth opportunities are the ones that can help them achieve that job satisfaction.
For Generation Z, work-life balance and job satisfaction come hand-in-hand over high pay or benefits. But why? This article looks into how work-life balance affects Gen Z’s job satisfaction rate and how you, as an employer, can accommodate their expectations.
Why Work-Life Balance Matters?
Compared to previous generations, Generation Z grew up in a world where traditional concepts of how work should be have shifted. They focus more on the quality of their experience, which is crucial for their career growth, rather than the time they spend on work. This shift in focus is what we refer to as ‘work-life balance ‘. They also want to balance their career with personal time, which gives them purpose and stay healthy in everything they do.
This is why when they look for jobs, they often investigate the work environment to determine if it will help them achieve their work-life balance. The perfect work environment would entail an organized workspace for efficiency and comfort. They also consider the availability of mental health support, flexible work hours, and regular opportunities for growth before saying yes to a job offer.
Do Gen Z also consider other factors when picking jobs? Yes, they do because it also relates to achieving work-life balance.
What Should Employers Do?
With the job market increasingly filled with Gen Z applicants, employers must adapt to these changing times to retain workers from this group. Here are some proactive changes you can make to your work environment to accommodate their needs:
- Create Mental Health Programs
As part of their efforts to achieve a work-life balance, Gen Z workers want mental health benefits as part of their employee benefits and a good workspace. Employers must ensure their workers enjoy their time in their workplace and have all the space they need to work comfortably. It is also best to review current workplace standards to see if they won’t affect work efficiency and comfort.
- Schedule Many Growth Opportunities
Gen Z workers want to work in a workplace that offers many opportunities for its workers, enabling them to achieve their career targets and other goals. Employers should create opportunities for employees to train on new skills and continue advancing their education. Some examples include mentorship, seminars, and continuous learning.
- Create And Maintain A Fun Company Culture
To retain Gen Z workers and the rest of your workforce, it’s crucial to create a fun workplace. By scheduling fun events and regular team-building sessions, you can give your employees a break and help them relax. These events also foster a sense of belonging and comfort, making your employees more likely to stay with the company and perform at their best.
Generation Z workers also consider transparency to be a great indicator that they can achieve work-life balance with the company. In this context, transparency means open and honest communication about company policies, decisions, and performance. Thanks to their exposure to the internet and the changing social landscape, these workers are more speculative about what is being shown or offered to them. This means they won’t immediately believe their colleagues or work well with them at the workplace. But, with transparency, they know they will be getting the feedback they need about their work and will be kept in the loop. They will also understand that the employers will fulfil part of their agreement upon your signing up.
Gen Z wants to make a difference above getting high pay. To them, social causes are a part of them, and their work should support these causes. If employers wish to appeal to this demographic, they must be ready to show their commitment to these social issues and be consistent.
As an employer, you must be ready to cater to the demands of your workers and the potential talents you include in your team. With Gen Z talents knowing what they want before they join a firm, you need to be one step ahead and make the necessary arrangements to make them feel welcome in the team. When these workers see your efforts, there is no doubt they will do their best to get into your company and be one of your most loyal employees.
For other related articles, pleas do check out these:
Can You Learn Anything From Gen Z at Work?
Great Tips to Engage Gen Z Colleagues at Your Company
Understanding the Importance of Positive Relationships in the Workplace
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