“Would you rather stay in the same job for the rest of your career or change jobs every year until you retire?” ThinkLab founder and president Amanda Schneider posed this question to TEDx x Fargo attendees during her recent talk. While those at the event skewed in favor of staying with the same job, Schneider shared that most Gen Zers disagree. “Gen Z will make up 27% of the workforce by next year and when we asked them this same question, the majority said they would rather change jobs every year from now until they retire,” she said.
The desire to build collective insight from multiple companies rather than a deeper dive into one creates an ever shifting approach to work—one that all generations would benefit paying attention to. “We have a choice: We could ignore them [Gen Zers]… or we can look to Gen Z as a prototype to help us build a better future,” Schneider asserted. “I’m going to suggest that work is broken,” she added, assuring the audience that this disruption opens many doors of opportunity.
Interested in learning more about Gen Z in the workplace? Listen to Design Nerds Anonymous, a podcast series hosted by Amanda Schneider on the SURROUND Podcast Network.
As an entrepreneur and a mom, Schneider shared challenges she experienced in the quest to “do it all,” noting that most are asked to play by outdated rules, such as working nine-to-five. “In the past four years, we’ve seen a massive shift in how knowledge workers work—hybrid work is on the rise,” she said. “This is the perfect time to rethink norms for the next era. And the solution in my research comes from looking at the youngest generation in our midst.”
Amanda Schneider on stage during her TEDx x Fargo talk on the future of the work.
Exploring Gen Z Ideals in the Workplace
Schneider explained that there are three key Gen Z perceptions that affect the future of work. The first: “Gen Z is blind to their own physical digital fluidity,” she said, meaning hybrid work is all they know. To keep up, older generations in the workforce need to get what Schneider deems “phygital,” merging the way they work in a physical and digital way. “Most people care more about when they work than where they work,” she added, which creates a need for developing new communications norms, defining core working hours for team interactions, and prioritizing the way individuals optimize their own productivity.
Gen Z also expects transparency. “It’s okay for people to move on and to be clear about what trade offs they will and won’t make,” she said. “The future of work will start with companies boldly declaring their policies,” which gives applicants more agency—and information—when deciding if a role is the right fit.
Lastly, Gen Z insists on inclusion and wants to be part of important conversations. “Let’s engage new voices,” Schneider said, referencing a next gen advisory board Gucci put together when leadership recognized the need for fresh perspectives, which led to significant jumps in sales.
The takeaway? “Work, as we know it, is broken. Gen Z can help us fix it, but it will take all of us to make it happen,” Schneider said, closing her talk to the sound of applause.
Editor’s note: Watch the full TEDx Talk by Amanda Schneider.