It’s been a rough go of things for Gen Z’s young workers. The COVID pandemic has destroyed countless jobs and depressed the workforce in a way not seen since the Great Recession and Great Depression before that. Add the social unrest, protests against discrimination, and a changing technological landscape into the mix, and Gen Z has every right to feel uneasy about their prospects at work.
If you want to support an uneasy Gen Z worker, these tips can help.
- Ease the College/Workplace Transition
Gen Z has seen the traditional milestones of adolescence (first jobs, prom, high school and college graduations) cancelled, which makes the already-hard transition from college life to the workforce even harder. Mentoring can help here. It isn’t Gen Z-er’s fault that they don’t have job experience in many cases, or that their transition time from college to the workforce has been cut cruelly short. Placing them under the supervision of experienced employees who can help guide them into your industry while empathizing and helping ease the transition from university to business life can be a huge boost.
- Skills Development
Millennials experienced the dreaded “Lack of Experience” Curse when trying to enter the workforce during the Great Recession. It stymied their economic future (and still does) and the same is true of Gen Z-ers, making it that much more important to help them develop their skills. What Gen Z-ers really lack is a fair chance to prove themselves. Give them that, and the opportunity to develop their skills with you, and they won’t disappoint.
- Invest in Stress Management
This is something companies should be doing for all employees. Gen Z-ers have a ton of pressure on them entering an unstable workforce with little experience and a fear the pandemic’s effect on the workforce will permanently damage their career prospects. That’s enough to stress anyone out. Stress management and orientation programs (also good for helping ease that college-to-work transition) can help Gen Z-ers settle into their new jobs better, making them more productive.
- Empathy Matters
Above all, Gen Z-ers need empathy and understanding that they are facing a massive generational challenge. People may sneer at giving young workers extra help or empathizing with their assistance, but in many cases, they’re not seeking a “hand out” but a “hand up.” Workplace empathy is something that repays itself over time – show your Gen Z-ers your company is a caring one, and they’re likely to care more and demonstrate even greater productivity and company loyalty.
By doing this, you can make your workplace a welcoming place for Gen Z-ers looking to take their first steps into an uncertain world and workforce.