OPINION: Leaping into the future with Gen Z

While the pandemic introduced us to amazing reserves of individual resilience, it also nudged us to introspect on how we wish to spend our lives—at home and at work. Now, as offices reopen their doors, this pursuit of well-being gains greater urgency, especially when viewed against the findings from Steelcase’s Global Report: Changing Expectations and the Future of Work, which draws on perspectives of 32,000 employees in 10 countries.

According to this report, when asked to identify the key elements that their workplace should provide, people placed physical, cognitive, and emotional needs for comfort and well-being right on top of their heap of expectations.

Data from another source also reveals a disturbing trend. Gen Z, the freshest cohorts in every organization—the ones, who were inducted when the modern world was reeling under the greatest global crisis—have also reported the highest burnout. Juxtapose this saturation against their scarce experience in traditional office spaces, their zilch offline interaction with colleagues, and their heavy reliance on digital paraphernalia, and you have on hand a workforce that could redefine the very underpinnings of human resource management.

However, there’s a sweet dichotomy in the findings on Gen Z—as much as they crave autonomy and a non-traditional office setup, they also long for social contact, face-to-face communication, and the pluralism offered by an office space.

For companies to thrive in the post-pandemic world, this duality of expectations among Gen Z needs to be addressed effectively—especially because they are set to soon outnumber millennials and occupy 27 per cent of the global workforce.

Culture over capital

Now is the time when Peter Drucker’s famous quote, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”, sounds like an anthem. A hard-nosed strategic plan is of little consequence if the people driving it forward are denied a supportive work environment that makes them feel valued and understood. Fortunately, many Indian companies are quickly realizing how cost-to-company digits alone are no longer enough; millennials and Gen Z have their hearts set on the psychological gains, which come from a work environment that fosters inspiration, purpose, optimism, creativity, innovation, and freedom.

More and more companies are increasingly willing to see the merit in responding to these subliminal needs and Gen Z’s quest for personal agency. According to our report, 87 percent of global leaders agree they will offer more choice and control for employees to work from home or elsewhere.

As companies shut down satellite offices and gather on one campus, they are also making copious investments in learning and development programs to compensate for the vacuum in learning that blindsided them over the past 18 months. The pandemic has compelled companies to reevaluate their curriculum, so it better adapts to their changed work environment. Now, training content is not focused on product or function alone, but includes subjects that matter deeply to Gen Z, such as diversity, inclusion, and issues linked to environment, society, and governance.

Radical candor

Gen Z also feels more fiercely about the earth than millennials and Gen X—after all, they have been veritably raised under the intimidating specter of climate change. Consequently, they find an aspirational value in companies that extend genuine commitment towards causes such as hunger, sustainability, deforestation, pollution, gender equality, diversity, etc.

Gen Z prefers being part of organizations that speak unreservedly about causes they are invested in. Studies reveal that, unlike millennials, they do not spurn diverse points of view either, even if those are at odds with their own.

Mobility all the way

With their aversion for stereotypes and their passion for individual identity, Gen Z is ardent about the hybrid model of working. They are disinclined towards assigned spaces, and more amenable to the idea of working from anywhere. They prefer cafeterias, lounges, sofa settings, pods, and biophilic design. In fact, they do not regard the cafeteria as a dedicated area for meals, but as a place to brainstorm and collaborate. It would help to redefine such spaces in the office with clever adjustments that allow for an easy ‘flip and tuck’.

Steelcase meets this demand in more ways than one with a vast collection of furniture and accessories, which is designed for collaborative teams that seek flexibility and control to adapt their space on demand, be it a daily stand-up or a creative brainstorm. It places employees amid a floor plan that offers both privacy and a sense of community. Think work surfaces that can be pulled out when there is work and tucked away when you are done; portable and lightweight acoustic solutions and power stations; adjustable desks that can be pulled up (or down) to allow employees to alternate between standing or sitting, and move away from unhealthy sedentary forms.

It is hardly surprising why all these measures are being eagerly received by Gen Z. Here is a generation that is hypercognitive and at ease while they connect the dots between multiple streams of information. One of their greatest strengths is that they have mastered the skill of integrating virtual and offline experiences, and are adept at deftly moving in and out of both spheres. This startling versatility can be an asset to any organization, if understood and harnessed appropriately.

Disclaimer: Views expressed above are the author's own.