Generation Z Prefers Flexibility Over Fully Remote Work

According to a new study, Gen Z professionals want flexible workplaces from an employer

Offices across the United States are reopening, and employees are returning to their jobs after two years of the pandemic. Conventional wisdom says that Generation Z's young employees—those in their early and mid-20s—aren't interested in cubicles. Employers who believe that Gen Z wants all-remote-all-the-time are misunderstanding the situation and might be missing out on excellent employees.

A growing number of young workers have never worked in an office. During the pandemic, or after offices began to close, they completed their studies or found employment. Many of them—particularly Generation Z—believe they will never work in an office because remote employment is becoming the norm for many organizations.

A study found that many young remote workers are dissatisfied with their jobs and feel unmoored and anxious by the isolation they experience. According to the experts, young workers may damage their prospects by avoiding office work and other traditional things that previous generations took for granted. 

Many Generation Z workers may not desire to be totally remote. Instead, they want flexibility. The data suggest more complex tastes. Gen Z employees desire the freedom to work remotely while still maintaining face-to-face interactions with new coworkers.

According to Handshake's latest report, only 7% of all full-time jobs were remote, but they received 17% of all applications. 

The study also found a significant link between the percentage of remote full-time employment in a city and its appeal to Handshake job seekers. The more far-flung the occupations available in a city, the more people apply for work there. Not only are tech occupations drawing a lot of attention to remote work, but so are other professions. More than 20% of applications from students majoring in communications, art and design, and health professions were for full-time remote positions.

Generation Z grew up behind screens

It's no surprise that Generation Z is comfortable with the idea of remote work as their new normal. After all, they were born into a world where smartphones, high-speed internet, and social media exist. They went to school online long before the epidemic, and, naturally, recent college graduates had plenty of remote classes due to COVID-19. They are at ease establishing connections online, whether social or professional. According to one survey, two-thirds of Generation Z members believe they can create their professional networks without meeting people in person.

According to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, members of Generation Z—those born roughly beginning in 1997—are expected to account for around a third of the US civilian workforce by 2030. These digital natives don't want to work full-time in the office for the most part. 

Working at least half of the time remotely is something that most (69%) of Generation Z respondents said they would want to do. Paradoxically, studies have revealed that almost half of respondents reported increased anxiety and depression due to remote work.

Working from home may be lonely and stressful for anybody. According to experts, these effects are more apparent for Generation Zers, who have grown up in an era of constant media consumption. Dr. Nishizaki, adjunct professor at California State University, Los Angeles, Gen Z has the least amount of person-to-person interaction while growing up. There is a link between depression and anxiety and how we compare ourselves to others.  

According to psychologists, many young adults, from ages 18 to 29, feel lonely and anxious, whether they use screens or not. Working from an office allows for more natural relationships with coworkers, from friendships to mentorships. This means that young remote workers may miss out on professional connections and friendships.

Young workers seek hybrid work schedules

The desire for adaptability may be playing a role in where Generation Zers want to reside. In 2021, the top search on Handshake's network wasn't in New York City or Silicon Valley or some other tech hotspot: It was in Florida. According to a recent report, Miami has gotten more than double the amount of applications for each opening that its size and demographics would suggest.

Miami may appear to be the wrong option for Generation Z professionals beginning their careers. Its major private employers include a grocery chain, a hospital system, a university, and an airline, which aren't the high-growth, high-salary businesses that recent college graduates have typically sought.

Some major-name fintech, financial services, and cryptocurrency businesses have flocked to Miami in recent years. Despite the employment losses seen in many other industries, the tech sector has experienced a substantial increase in job opportunities over the last decade. Miami is also bright and pleasant, with a lower cost of living than many other big cities. Roughly 10% of Miami's full-time jobs are remote. Rather than being restricted to the workplace, this opens doors for them to work where they want while allowing them to interact with their coworkers.

In Miami and other places with significant percentages of remote employment, it's conceivable that Generation Z interprets the word "remote" as "flexible." AIt is a flexible, innovative, and creative business that believes in empowering its staff members to manage their own time and lives while providing them with opportunities for professional fulfillment.

Companies need strategies to engage Gen Z

Tzedal Neeley, a Harvard Business School professor, believes businesses should accept the duty of engaging their younger staff, especially in remote-work settings.

They're less likely to feel committed to their workplaces if they don't have a sense of belonging and connection. If they don't feel fully joined or don’t like the culture they see, they'll be eager to depart. According to a Bankrate survey of nearly 2,000 workers in July 2021, more than half of Americans planned to look for a new position within the next year. Regarding job searching, twice as many Generation Z employees (28 percent) as baby boomers and Gen X workers said they were very likely to begin.

Some staff members might be relieved after a meeting in person or an optional office day, which may allow for more direct discussions and better cooperation. Employees who work remotely for the majority of or all of their time, on the other hand, may require more deliberate assistance.