Heads up generation Z

[Chip Gelmini]

https://blog.cheapism.com/why-bosses...g-gen-z-hires/

[Chip Gelmini]

A very good read on the future of generation Z in the workplace

[Brian Harrington]

Well my kids are in that gen, and gainfully employed, and they're not like that, but I know what they mean.

I laugh about the clothes -- depending on what occupation your were in, when I got out of college my jobs had strict dress codes -- suits. I got balled out once by my boss for showing up in blazer and slacks, which technically isn't a suit. What puzzled me was that most people hung up their suit jacket and walked around in short sleeves anyway, so it wasn't obvious that I wasn't wearing a suit unless you saw me coming in, leaving, or peeked at my coat rack. And, oh yea, I was a computer programmer, not like my job was to wine and dine clients. (It was a big-8 accounting firm in Manhattan, but we had no interaction with clients. In fact, they eventually moved our office to Joisy. And we still had to wear suits!)


I was almost there for a year before showing up about a half hour late one day, since I had to commute from Brooklyn to Jersey after they moved us. It was a 1.5 hour drive each way on a good day. Heavy traffic that morning, pouring rain, accidents, etc. I still got balled out for being late. I started looking for a job the next day and only stayed there another month and got another job in the city.

At that job, I was there over 4 years before I ever showed up late (maybe a half hour) -- and still got balled out. But the guy had just started a few months before, to replace my old boss who left, so this guy needed to flex his muscles. A few months later, he was gone (good riddance) -- but I wasn't. It apparently didn't matter to him that I usually stayed way past quitting time (5pm), and I was the only guy on his staff that knew a thing about the system we were supporting. He himself knew diddly about the technology I was using, or the business we were supporting. What a maroon, as Bugs Bunny would say.

What managers needed to know then, and now (and I've spent many years as a manager), is that being a clock-watcher can backfire. If you show your people that you are a stickler for time -- then guess what? They will start to work not a minute before nor a minute after the "official" hours. If you can be a clock-watcher, than so can I!

I had another boss (when I was myself a manager) who would say to other people, "I'm not a clock watcher, but..." followed by things like "you arrived at 9:05 today." Then he would complain to me if one of my guys was late. It didn't bother me, so he shouldn't have cared. He tried to micro-manage a manager. Another maroon. There's a difference to being late when you're required to be there for a meeting or something time-sensitive, but other-wise, I couldn't have cared less when they worked, as long as the job got done.

So while I may agree that many of these kids don't have the right work ethic, I also think there are still plenty of nincompoop bosses who can't see the forest for the trees.

[Osi Osgood]

"Adulting is hard!", whines the Gen Z'r!

[Graham Ritchie]

When I left school after turning 15 my father said, well you better get a trade, I did and its still good advice to this day. I am now 72 years old yikes and its certainly been an interesting time. When I look back one job interview for an airline comes to mind. The engineering manager, the chief inspector, the hanger maintenance supervisor, the shift engineer all interviewed me at the same time behind a large table. One question did throw me, and that was from the chief inspector, who asked me do you smoke and drink? I hesitated, then said, I don't smoke, but you like a social drink don't you? I said yes and got the job. What I later thought was, that it was his way of finding out if I could mix in with the the rest of the guys on the shift, as getting on well with them to him was very important, that was my thought that came later, to that what I thought was a strange question. I landed up working for them for 10 years until the place closed, it was a good job. Its the people you remember the most in the end. Young Chris who I gave a job to at the cinema I suggested to him, to become a electrician, he did just that and after bumping into him a year or so ago when I asked about that advice, getting a trade had no regrets and was doing very well.

The world will always need people like plumbers, carpenters, block layers, construction works, welders and so on, without them we would be stuffed

[Ed Gordon]

Another viewpoint on Gen Z:

What is the Generation Z Personality

Like the four generations before them, Gen Z has its own personality that is formed from its life experiences.

Being digital natives in a time of always wired connectivity, Gen Z has a global perspective. This makes this generation comfortable with making friends, communicating openly, and agitating for change in online social communities.

In fact, Gen Z is not limited by local or even national events. Global events have and do influence how they see and react to the world.

Gen Z members are cosmopolitans who are willing and able to mobilize across international borders to effect change. Connecting to this broader global experience, has put Gen Z in search of the truth behind things. Gen Z wants authenticity in their life experiences.

This broader global experience with its economic uncertainty and social disruption also gives Gen Z an appreciation for pragmatism. This is evident in how they approach life as they enter adulthood.

For example, Gen Z is both financially cautious and entrepreneurial. Gen Z wants security but they also want a sustainable environment.

Finally, Gen Z has a different view of diversity than other generations. They don’t tolerate diversity or even accept it; rather they expect it. Diversity is their life experience.

For example, in their report, What if the next big disruptor isn’t a what but a who?, the professional services firm Ernst & Young explains Gen Z’s view on diversity this way:
.

Remarkably, Gen Z has also grown up amid unprecedented tolerance:
most cannot remember an election without an African-American or a woman as a serious contender.
President Obama took office before any of them had reached 12 years of age.

Gen Z is entrepreneurial, socially expecting, environmentally conscious, and realistic. They are well informed and vocal. They value authenticity and individual expression.

From Generation Z: Who Are They and What Events Influenced Them? by Robert Tanner, MBA/Last Updated Jan 14, 2024

Link: https://managementisajourney.com/gen...m/#genz-events

[Osi Osgood]

Gen Z'rs also feel incredibly entitled and do not like to work face to face with others and have the most limited speaking and people skills. They are also the most I'll informed, as they assume that just because someone on the internet says something, it must be true.

[Chip Gelmini]

Okay. Since I began this thread I will now add my story to it. But first thank you to those who have written because the information has been quite interesting and thought provoking.

I was taught to study doing well in school and always pay attention to detail. In addition, to be ready to dive in and get my hands dirty on any project that was in front of me. When I began in the work force 50 years ago, it meant mopping floors, cleaning toilets, washing hands, cooking food ripping tickets doing changeovers, 100% of the time while on the company clock.

Today when I shop, I can’t stand it when I need help having to search for it. And if I do find it, all they do is walk me to the area where the stock should be but isn’t and say “everything we have is out.”

There is no effort to walk back to the stock room and check. Then come back and hear the bs again and only once in a while do they actually find the stock and we have a score.

It doesn’t help that all these billion dollar companies have built their stores every 10 miles or so. With the over kill of locations and astronomical operating expenses they do not have the money to stock the stores with enough supply. Which means I spend the afternoon traveling to a half dozen empty stores and arrive home with nothing.

On the flipside years ago I didn’t mind driving one hour to a single store because I knew I could come out with a somewhat full shopping cart. Those days are gone.

And very recently I ate at the golden arches. I have a high metabolism so when I eat I do it hearty. My meal at the golden arches nearly hit $20.00. This cost would have been under $12.00 about 10 years ago.

Paying $15.00 per hour or more is great. When I was just starting out – I was earning $4.50 per hour! I just wish those who are there to receive it would EARN IT.

[Brian Harrington]

Stores don't seem to have stock rooms anymore -- anytime I ask if they have more in the back they say everything they have is out here. I remember when 100% of the time, they'd go to the back and come out with ur item.

Or as you say they walk you to an area where it may be, and say "if we had it, it would be here." Most of the time, it's, "try aisle 8", or "not sure, but try aisle 9."

Or you ask for something, and the 15 year old kid, who's in charge of the store this week, asks, "what's that?"

How about, "This isn't my aisle."

Some days I go out needing 3 things -- and have to go to 4 stores to get them all.

I'm the only one who goes to Home Depot and walks out empty-handed since they don't carry what I need.

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Regarding the "generation" categories -- I've never liked that. I don't think people should be put into categories based on when they were born. It goes against everything most of this world is against. It's discrimination, and prejudice, actually. I don't like generalities anyway. Everyone is unique and shouldn't be judged by the "generation" someone decided to put them in.

I do think that future "generations" will look back and peg "now" inventions, such as the ubiquitous iPhone, as being more harmful than beneficial and probably considered one of the worst inventions ever. We take one step forward, and two steps back.

When I was in school, and then first starting to work, there were plenty of kids always late, to work and/or school. It's probably no different now than at anytime. What always irritated me, then and now, is that there seems to be not enough stigma to being late. The people on-time are always being inconvenienced by the late people. I hate when I go out to a restaurant with friends, and it's always that same couple who are late while the rest of us are eating breadsticks and staring at the menu, telling the waiter we're not ready to order yet as those 2 empty seat stare at us form across the table.

At the movies, you've been settled in ur seat for a half hour, sat thru 25 minutes of garbage, and the movie you paid for is finally starting, then you see a flash of light from the back of the theater as at least one person shuffles in and makes you get up to let him by. Alfred Hitchcock had a strict rule when PSYCHO came out that no one was allowed to enter the theater after the movie started. That should be a rule for ALL movies and ALL theaters -- from that day to this.

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That whole entitlement thing -- what does it really mean? If you earned something, and feel you should get something for it -- that's not entitlement. The kid who the first week in his first job after college who wants the world -- that's entitlement. It's not entitlement when you've proven ur value.


I read in a book many, many years ago that the worst thing you can do as a boss is to treat everyone equally. Yes, that's right, read that again. Everyone works at a different level, and if you treat the bad workers like the excellent ones, what do you think the excellent ones will do? Probably stop working as hard, and/or leave the company. That will be the best motivation for these gens Z'ers, so to speak, who fit the hypothetical mold that somone has pegged them into. Raise time -- you're always late, your works sucks -- 0 raise, 0 bonus. Give the extra money to the workers who produce. Then these Gen Z'ers will learn quickly. Money talks, bs walks.