Gen-Z's and office culture - what gives?

[herzlos]

It seems there's a bit of a gap between what new graduates (Gen Z) and management (Boomers?) expect from offices, with some places offering training on office life.

For those graduating from colleges now, they've potentially spent most of the last 3 years (of a 3 or 4 year course) remote work, doing remote internships and placements, etc.

Naturally, the hiring management, so I suspect are mostly still boomers or possibly Gen X, feel that the new grads are at fault for not having the social skills, but I think the office world has evolved drastically in the last 3 years. Things are much quieter and less formal, with what feels like a better work/life balance focus.

So: Who needs to adjust/evolve most here? Do we really need to train new graduates how to function in an office environment, or do management need to change their expectations of how an office should work?

www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-taking-courses-send-emails-office-clothes-wsj-2023-6?r=US&IR=T

KPMG is offering new hires introductory training that includes how to talk to people in person, with tips on the appropriate level of eye contact and pauses in a conversation, the company's vice chair of talent and culture, Sandy Torchia, told the Journal. Deloitte and PwC also began offering similar trainings earlier this year, the Financial Times reported in May.

[Haighus]

Communication skills training is not a bad idea in and of itself, but I feel this particular training is being done for the wrong reasons.

Edit: just noticed it is being provided by consultancy leech-firms. This is definitely cynical training that is probably rubbish.

[Haighus]

I suspect this is also directly at odds with accommodating neurodivergent employees or employees with learning disabilities. Some can learn those social cues if they lack them naturally, but I have little faith the likes of Deloitte will do any training that effectively does that for such groups. Meanwhile, training going in the opposite direction would help the above and gen z'ers with poorer communication skills.

[herzlos]

Yeah the eye contact and conversational pauses really jumped out at me from a neurodiversity perspective since that'd be difficult for a huge range of people who are otherwise fine to work in offices.

I know a lot of workplaces are being more neurodiverse aware, though I don't know how wide spread it actually is or seriously it's taken. For example I'm aware of some local companies moving sites and as far as I can tell there's no consultation on accessibility beyond what's in the building regulations which is almost all about wheel chair access. I'm not diminishing wheel chair access of course - if it's accessible for a chair it's good for everyone, but there are so many other things can be done in terms of lighting, noise, privacy, etc.

[maddocgrotsnik]

Erm…possibly?

I genuinely don’t know, because School and College leavers this year have had incredibly different lives to me.

In terms of WFH? I can see some argument that for your first few weeks or months where you not only need to learn your job but your employer’s preferences, being physically present will bring interaction and team bonding I’m not sure purely online can properly replicate.

But at the same time? Office Employers need to realise and accept that at least Hybrid Working is here, and it’s not going to go away. If you don’t allow for it, you’re just not going to get anyone with a reasonable choice applying in the first place. I’m not painting those applying as therefore cretins, just that Those With The Choice, wherever that choice stems from (already have a job, are super well qualified etc) have it, and are unlikely to apply unless everywhere else turns them down. Because it’s so much more than “commuting sucks”, despite that being a true statement. It’s cheaper (no commute costs, make your own lunch) and provides optimum work/life balance.

A happy employee is less likely to be job hunting in the first place, unless looking to expand their career. An unhappy employee is going to be job hunting because the grass is always greener on the other side. The more you can do to dodge avoidable upset, the less staff turnover you’ll have.

[easye]

This is yet another jab at WFH from management types.

[crispy78]

And also that it's high time that the fucking boomer generation, who seem to think they're the fucking chosen ones, maybe need to realise that their time is ending and they don't get everything their fucking way any more... [/bitter]

[easye]

Well, Gen X is NOT going to be able to stop Boomers, or Millenials. Literally no one cares what the Gen X group thinks about anything.



[/end rant]

[herzlos]

Damn those pesky Gen-Xer's. Always just existing and getting in the way.

(I'm never sure if I'm gen X or Y since the definition seems to keep changing somewhere around the early 80's)

[mdgv2]

Jun 20, 2023 15:44:05 GMT -5 herzlos said:

Damn those pesky Gen-Xer's. Always just existing and getting in the way.

(I'm never sure if I'm gen X or Y since the definition seems to keep changing somewhere around the early 80's)

Born in May 1980, I’m either Gen X, Xillenial or Milennial depending on exactly who it is that’s decided I’m a cunt for merely being born in the first place.

I do prefer to identify as Gen X, as in terms of my TV and Media Mum and Dad were super permissive about telly, so it’s early to mid 80’s stuff I consider truly formative. And yes that does explain a lot..