The demographics of the workplace have never been more diverse. Older generations have been returning to work post-pandemic, while Gen Z’s share of the workforce grows every year. Organisations now face the challenge of fostering a workplace culture that resonates with each of the four generations in the workplace.
Bridging gaps in motivation, values and ideals is not easy and requires a strategic approach. But with a practical focus on five key areas, organisations can make headway towards achieving an inclusive multigenerational workplace culture.
Integrating Gen Z
Compounded by a competitive hiring environment, companies now have little choice but to adapt to Gen Z’s expectations – offering a diverse range of benefits, clearly communicating values, and providing tailored support and training to managers focused on bridging generational gaps.
Without the right policies put in place and the right steps taken, it should come as no surprise many Gen Z workers are out of step with their bosses. Especially on key issues such as empathy, mental health, and the importance of work to personal identity. For example, according to recent research by Deloitte Digital, Gen Zers rank empathy as the second most important quality in a boss, while bosses rank it, on average, a distant fifth.
Overall, Gen Z employees are much more selective than their predecessors about where they work. They prioritise factors such as flexible working arrangements, social justice, pay equality, and mental health support. So, when it comes to fostering a multigenerational culture, business and HR leaders need to ensure they are tailoring policies to directly address the key issues and concerns for not just Gen Z but for all generations.
Balancing generational cultures
The task of creating a workplace culture that aligns with Gen Z as well as existing and returning older employees may seem challenging, but it’s entirely achievable. This is where embedding an inclusive culture comes into play, and the manager plays a pivotal role.
Managers help communicate and amplify an organisation’s values and goals to their direct reports and are vital in sharing feedback back up to senior leadership; acting as bridges between different generations, facilitating understanding, collaboration and two-way communication. This can only truly happen once they themselves receive the necessary support and tools from HR and business leaders.
Often, a culture that respects the wisdom of older generations while embracing the fresh perspectives of Gen Z can thrive. This dynamic blend of experience and innovation can lead to a workplace culture which not only resonates with all generations but also fosters creativity and continuous improvement.
Fostering organic cultural development through tailored support
Understanding and actively listening to the unique needs of individual employees is paramount in creating an inclusive multigenerational culture. Having dedicated channels that employees know are open to them and through which they can confidentially share concerns and receive professional mental health support if needed is essential. This should include direct communication channels which can provide valuable insights that help HR and HCM teams personalise and improve the employee experience, while also enabling them to identify problem areas that need focusing on.
Yet, having a blend of policies and tools to help stimulate direct feedback from employees, whilst a great step, can only go so far. The key is to leverage insights from feedback surveys to enable companies to make the necessary data-driven changes – fostering deeper trust and engagement across generations.
Beyond that, when making decisions that will have an impact on workplace culture, be sure to bring in the perspectives of different generations. When employees feel that their voices are heard and their opinions matter, they are naturally more likely to be engaged and committed to the organisation’s success.
Promoting healthy balance
Organisations today must show their employees that their wellbeing is a priority. It is those promoting open communication and championing flexible working arrangements that will be rewarded with a more satisfied workforce – becoming a more attractive employer in the process.
Ultimately, by committing to embracing diversity, promoting open communication and providing tailored support, organisations can go a long way towards fostering a workplace culture that harnesses the unique strengths and perspectives that each generation brings to the table – and where employees of all ages can thrive.
The post How to Ace the Generation Game: Fostering an Inclusive Multigenerational Workplace Culture appeared first on HR News.