Gen Z is the hardest to manage, even their peers admit it. Bosses are hiring more millennials instead

It’s no secret that Gen Z often gets criticized for not “busting their ass” at work like previous generations. Last year, Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster complained that Gen Zers don’t show up to work until 10:30 a.m., and an MIT interviewer blasted the generation for always “being late.”

A viral debate also emerged when a CEO vented about a Gen Z job candidate who refused to complete a 90-minute task because it “looked like a lot of work.”

Bosses have even begun firing Gen Z employees shortly after hiring them, describing many recent grads as “unprepared and unprofessional.” But it’s not just Gen Xers and baby boomers who have noticed these work habits; even Gen Z hiring managers are chiming in about their own generation’s work style.

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A survey by Resume Genius asked 625 U.S. hiring managers which generation is the most challenging to work with, and 45% pointed to Gen Z. Surprisingly, 50% of Gen Z hiring managers admitted that their generation is the most difficult to manage.

On the other hand, baby boomers—often criticized for their disconnection from modern work life—were considered the easiest to manage, though they remain the least likely to be hired. Only 4% of hiring managers expect to hire baby boomers in the coming year, while a third will likely hire Gen Zers.

Despite their reputation for being the most difficult to work with, Gen Z remains the second most likely group to be hired, trailing behind millennials at 45%. Only 14% of hiring managers expect to hire Gen X workers in the near future. This generational shift has led many to wonder what makes Gen Z so challenging to manage in the workplace.

The survey didn’t delve into specific reasons, but one major factor is that Gen Z came of age during the pandemic. Missing out on key college experiences, from frat parties to graduation ceremonies, as well as summer internships, has left many Gen Z workers without crucial work-life exposure before entering the job market.

Employers are responding by offering extra training to help these young employees develop the skills they missed out on. Major consulting firms like Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY are offering soft-skills training to help junior hires with communication, such as learning to speak up in meetings.

“It’s wholly understandable that students who missed out on face-to-face activities during COVID may now be stronger in certain fields, such as working independently, and less confident in others, such as presentations to groups,” said Ian Elliott, chief people officer at PwC UK, acknowledging the challenges Gen Z faces.

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Despite these challenges, the survey indicates that workers generally become easier to manage with age. The percentage of managers who found Gen Z difficult to work with dropped to 26% for millennials, 13% for Gen X, and just 9% for baby boomers. In the end, the struggles with Gen Z may just be part of a typical rite of passage, similar to how millennials were once labeled as “work-shy snowflakes” before rising to management roles.

Rather than trying to mold Gen Z into a more manageable workforce, some experts suggest businesses adapt to their needs. According to Geoffrey Scott, senior hiring manager at Resume Genius, “Gen Z has already shaken things up, but they’re not here to break things: They bring a unique blend of talent and bold ideas that can rejuvenate any workforce.”

Gen Z workers are highly selective about their workplace, often prioritizing their social beliefs over traditional professional experience. According to the research, Gen Z managers are most likely to make hiring decisions based on candidates’ “hobbies and interests” listed on their CV, rather than their career history. Furthermore, half of Gen Z employees said they would turn down a job that didn’t align with their beliefs.

While Gen Z may have a bad reputation, Scott concludes, “They have the power to transform workplaces for the better.” So, while they may be difficult to manage now, it’s clear that their influence on the workplace could lead to positive change in the future.

Sources - 

https://resumegenius.com/blog/job-hunting/hiring-trends-survey
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/09/millennials-lazy-snowflakes-work-young-people

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