![[US] Gen Z workers bring salary transparency and frank conversations](http://gpa.net/cdn/shop/articles/bigstock-Young-People-In-Co-working-Cre-432544928_1200x.jpg?v=1696585096)
Under the traditional unwritten rules of the office, norms such as not discussing pay and never telling your boss your true feelings about them were observed. Gen Z, however, is operating from a different playbook and in doing so it is helping the workplace to evolve, Yahoo reports.
According to new research from Adobe, the most recent generation to enter the workforce is bringing with it an era of frankness. And this extends to telling their managers exactly what they're doing wrong.
Adobe surveyed over 1,000 US Gen Z workers - individuals born between 1997 and 2012 - who have been in employment for up to three years and reportedly found that they’re “not shy about using their voice”.
Nearly three-quarters of the young workers said they’re completely comfortable offering upward feedback to their supervisors and that figure leaps to 90 per cent when it comes to sharing constructive criticism of their peers.
Around the same percentage of respondents said they are comfortable discussing job satisfaction (or lack thereof) at work. In addition, the majority of respondents stated that they didn't mind talking about historically taboo topics such as money. Nearly eight in 10 said they are comfortable talking about their wages.
Brutal honesty
“Gen Z employees are entering the workplace with a fresh take on how, when, and where you should work and with a different set of skills,” Jill Cotton - career trends expert at Gumtree - said of the research.
“For too long, secrecy in the workplace has stifled attempts to create greater equality amongst employees,” she tells Fortune, adding that finally young workers are increasing transparency within companies by discussing what matters most—whether it is mental health, salary or career goals.
“Employers need to be ready to be called out for inequal practices as Gen Z are not prepared to suffer in silence,” Ms Cotton added.
Breaking traditional taboos can lead to a more open company culture, more equitable pay and a fairer workplace. However, it can also create chaos.
Research has reportedly shown that when salary transparency highlights unfair discrepancies between what workers are earning, tensions rise and resignations follow.
For this reason, recruiters told Fortune that clearly defined salary banding is central to avoiding conflict as Gen Z opens that particular can of worms.
Ms Cotton emphasises that “it’s important for employers to take time to listen to what younger employees want and need.”
“When employees feel empowered to talk up, managers will be held more accountable for why decisions are taken,” she told Fortune. “Be prepared to explain the reasons behind the choices the company has made – this level of transparency will give your teams the opportunity to understand and get behind your decisions.”
Most importantly, Ms Cotton states that increased transparency “shouldn’t be feared” by managers because ultimately it will spotlight issues at their firm and give them the heads-up needed to create change.
Gen Z disrupting workplace norms
Adobe’s survey follows prior research that shows how Gen Z is disrupting long-held workplace norms.
Gone are 9-5 days spent working for one employer. Gen Z workers would reportedly rather work from 6pm and take on multiple contract gigs to fit work around their lifestyle. Many also prioritise stress-free jobs with less responsibility, calling time on hustle culture.
It might appear easy to write off any perceived threat of a complete overhaul to workplace tradition while Gen Z represents a relatively small minority group but ignoring slow but steady changes to company culture could be a huge oversight. Gen Z will make up 25 per cent of the workforce by 2025.
(Links and quotes via original reporting)
Under the traditional unwritten rules of the office, norms such as not discussing pay and never telling your boss your true feelings about them were observed. Gen Z, however, is operating from a different playbook and in doing so it is helping the workplace to evolve, Yahoo reports.
According to new research from Adobe, the most recent generation to enter the workforce is bringing with it an era of frankness. And this extends to telling their managers exactly what they're doing wrong.
Adobe surveyed over 1,000 US Gen Z workers - individuals born between 1997 and 2012 - who have been in employment for up to three years and reportedly found that they’re “not shy about using their voice”.
Nearly three-quarters of the young workers said they’re completely comfortable offering upward feedback to their supervisors and that figure leaps to 90 per cent when it comes to sharing constructive criticism of their peers.
Around the same percentage of respondents said they are comfortable discussing job satisfaction (or lack thereof) at work. In addition, the majority of respondents stated that they didn't mind talking about historically taboo topics such as money. Nearly eight in 10 said they are comfortable talking about their wages.
Brutal honesty
“Gen Z employees are entering the workplace with a fresh take on how, when, and where you should work and with a different set of skills,” Jill Cotton - career trends expert at Gumtree - said of the research.
“For too long, secrecy in the workplace has stifled attempts to create greater equality amongst employees,” she tells Fortune, adding that finally young workers are increasing transparency within companies by discussing what matters most—whether it is mental health, salary or career goals.
“Employers need to be ready to be called out for inequal practices as Gen Z are not prepared to suffer in silence,” Ms Cotton added.
Breaking traditional taboos can lead to a more open company culture, more equitable pay and a fairer workplace. However, it can also create chaos.
Research has reportedly shown that when salary transparency highlights unfair discrepancies between what workers are earning, tensions rise and resignations follow.
For this reason, recruiters told Fortune that clearly defined salary banding is central to avoiding conflict as Gen Z opens that particular can of worms.
Ms Cotton emphasises that “it’s important for employers to take time to listen to what younger employees want and need.”
“When employees feel empowered to talk up, managers will be held more accountable for why decisions are taken,” she told Fortune. “Be prepared to explain the reasons behind the choices the company has made – this level of transparency will give your teams the opportunity to understand and get behind your decisions.”
Most importantly, Ms Cotton states that increased transparency “shouldn’t be feared” by managers because ultimately it will spotlight issues at their firm and give them the heads-up needed to create change.
Gen Z disrupting workplace norms
Adobe’s survey follows prior research that shows how Gen Z is disrupting long-held workplace norms.
Gone are 9-5 days spent working for one employer. Gen Z workers would reportedly rather work from 6pm and take on multiple contract gigs to fit work around their lifestyle. Many also prioritise stress-free jobs with less responsibility, calling time on hustle culture.
It might appear easy to write off any perceived threat of a complete overhaul to workplace tradition while Gen Z represents a relatively small minority group but ignoring slow but steady changes to company culture could be a huge oversight. Gen Z will make up 25 per cent of the workforce by 2025.
(Links and quotes via original reporting)