Gen Z’s impact on work

I started my career at Arthur Andersen (RIP). I would go into the office (or to a client’s office) every day. Suit and tie every day. Except on Fridays when it was business casual. We started at 8. Had lunch at 11:30. And worked until past 5. If I was sick, I would usually still work. Don’t worry, this isn’t an old man yelling at clouds story.

I didn’t last very long in that world. Luckily for all of us, those trends ended in the 90’s. 

Jump forward almost 30 years and the world of work is a lot different. And mostly for the better. Through a pandemic and younger generations, we’ve evolved.

Gen Z has taught us the importance of wellness. While it’s not something older generations had prioritized, its impact on productivity is significant. Afterall, the worst performing player on a sports team is the player that’s injured and can’t play. 

Gen Z is more likely to take sick days. For two reasons. 1) Because they are prioritizing their health and 2) Mental health. Both have positive long-term outcomes. If you’re coming into work sick, we’ve learned after a pandemic that it’s maybe not such a good idea. Because you’ll get other people sick. Even in remote settings, you’ll be less productive and it’ll take you longer to get better. As for mental health, there is no point in trying to work when you’re in a bad head space. 

The pandemic forced remote work into the mainstream. Most Gen Z’s started their careers this way. It’s all they know. And that’s okay. There is a lot of good that remote has contributed to our professional and personal lives. It has given us new opportunities to better balance life and work. However, there are still very good reasons to get together in person. It’s tricky and very dependent on each organization on how and when to do that.

We’re a remote company. We have an office, but it’s not mandatory. We use it to meet in person because some meetings are more productive that way. But it does come with its challenges. Training is far more difficult. The younger workforce does miss out on overhearing calls from senior leaders and learning that way (Which is more important than some may realize.) Stuff we didn’t anticipate when everything went remote. 

The dynamics of work have changed and they’ll continue to change. This week Emily and Ryan take this topic a step further in their episode ‘The Wellness Shift: Gen Z and the Future of Work.’ Check it out below!

In this episode of the Hirewell Update, hosts Ryan Brown and Emily Goor discuss Gen Z’s impact on workplace culture, focusing on work-life balance and mental health. They explore why Gen Z takes more sick days, including mental health days, and contrast their attitudes with older generations. The role of remote work in this shift is examined, and they conclude by emphasizing the need for organizations to adapt. Tune in to learn more!

Thanks for tuning in-

- Matt Founder, CEO - Hirewell