What does Gen Z expect in the workplace? This demographic appears to have exacting requests according to the research by the company Feedr. The results have been shared with Digital Journal.
The work expectations of the current generation are more focused on associated benefits in additional to the basic salary. Some of the requests may be surprising to older generations, and whether the expectations of the newer entrants into the workforce can be met will depend on the particular employer and salary band for the role.
By Gen Z this is a common term for the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. This is reserved for those born in the mid-to-late 1990s to the early 2010s.
The concerns are less to do with a pension pot or a company car, younger people are more likely to be looking for a job where they can work from home twice a week (25 percent) get a shower after cycling in (13 percent), have access to a life coach (15 percent) and bring their pooch to the office (9 percent).
The data is drawn from a poll of 2,000 18-29 year old UK based workers, commissioned by Feedr and conducted by Perspectus Global during November 2022.
The recent survey finds that 15 percent of Gen Z’s want every Friday afternoon off, 26 percent want a gym membership and one in five (20 percent) deem a relaxed dress code ‘a must’.
Food is a major perk for 18- to 29-year-olds, with 50 percent expecting dedicated areas for eating and 30 percent saying team lunches and dinners out were important, while 27 percent want cakes and treats on offer.
Mental health and wellbeing is also an important factor, with access to a life coach or psychotherapist (15 percent), a career mentor (nine percent), complimentary yoga sessions (seven percent) and a meditation room (five percent), each making the list.
Overall, two thirds (64 percent) of younger people believe a happy working environment is more important than a larger salary, with more than half (57 percent) saying that better nutrition and mental health perks are more important than benefits such as laptops, company cars and pension plans.
Six in ten (61 percent) agree that workers today have different expectations of benefits than previous generations did, with one in two (53 percent) agreeing that young people can be unfairly judged for having high standards when it comes to their job and working environment.
The data set is:
1. Flexible hours 45%
2. Getting your birthday off work 39%
3. A good coffee machine 28%
4. Working from home at least twice a week 27%
5. Gym membership 26%
6. A travel card 25%
7. Subsidised lunches 25%
8. Free fruit 24%
9. A relaxed dress code 20%
10. Office cakes and pastries on a Friday 18%
11. Team lunches and dinners 18%
12. Fun team away days 18%
13. Cycle to work scheme 15%
14. Friday afternoons off 15%
15. Access to a life coach or psychotherapist 15%
16. Access to professional financial advice 14%
17. Showers 13%
18. Bean bags or comfy break out areas 12%
19. Plant based milks to have with tea/coffee 11%
20. The chance to take a sabbatical 10%
21. Being able to bring your dog to the office 9%
22. A career mentor 9%
23. A smoothie/juice machine 8%
24. Hair dryers 7%
25. Yoga sessions 7%
26. Annual duvet day allowance 7%
27. Gluten or dairy free snacks 7%
28. A meditation room 5%
Linda Blank, COO, Feedr, tells Digital Journal: “There has been a lot of negativity around Gen Z’s expectations of work, however, they are the future workforce and it’s important to understand what matters to them. The research shows that young people want to feel supported, valued and respected in the workplace by employers who understand the benefits they want and value, from nutritious food to access to mental health support. Listening to employees and reacting to their needs can go a long way in attracting & retaining top talent and supporting a great employee experience.”
