How the Past Year Reshaped Millennial and Gen Z Perspectives on Work

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For the younger generations in the workforce, the events of the past year have been life-changing in a multitude of ways. The pandemic caused millennials and Gen Zs to rethink what truly matters to them, a mindset shift that has had an enormous impact on their perspectives on work. At the same time, tumultuous racial, social, and economic events unfolded around them, reinforcing their desire to make a difference and to work for an employer that’s committed to driving broader societal change.

Business leaders who want to attract and retain these talented, ambitious, and passionate employees would do well to note how their expectations have evolved over the past year. Many leaders I’ve spoken with agree that they’re already seeing a shift within their own organizations, and they’re adjusting their strategies, policies, and even their culture to meet the demands of these young workers.

Below is just one way that millennial and Gen Z workplace expectations have changed, and why employers need to adapt or risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive talent marketplace. To read the full article, subscribe to my FREE Workplace Intelligence Insider Newsletter.

They want support for their mental health, and they won’t accept high levels of workplace burnout and stress.

Even well before the pandemic, mental health was a top priority for younger generations. A 2019 study, for example, discovered that half of millennials and 75% of Gen Z workers have left jobs for mental health reasons. However, COVID-19 exacerbated many of the underlying factors causing mental health issues for these workers. Research from my firm Workplace Intelligence and Oracle confirms that compared to older generations, younger generations have struggled the most over the past year, with Gen Z and millennials working harder, feeling more stressed, and experiencing the most burnout.

While the worst of the pandemic may be behind us, Deloitte’s latest study on millennial and Gen Z expectations found that 41% of millennials and 46% of Gen Zs still feel stressed all or most of the time. Their report also highlighted that 4 out of 10 respondents say their employers don’t have policies in place to help support their mental health. Companies, therefore, need to continue their efforts in this space if they want to keep their workforce healthy and avoid losing their top talent.

Jen Fisher, Deloitte Chief Well-being Officer and author of Work Better Together: How to Cultivate Strong Relationships to Maximize Well-Being and Boost Bottom Lines, agrees with this assessment. “The pandemic put a spotlight on mental health, but the results of the Deloitte Global 2021 Millennial and Gen Z Survey show that there is a lot more work that needs to be done in the workplace to reduce stigma, increase awareness, and provide greater mental health support,” she notes. “As employees go back to the office or move to a hybrid work model, leaders that put mental health at the top of their agenda will better position their people and their organization to thrive during this transition.”

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