Generation Z is ready to go, whether they like it or not.
Nearly half (48%) of the Class of 2023 who have already accepted a postgraduate position say the job is entirely on-site. This is according to a survey of 2,500 graduating college seniors LaSalle Networka staffing and staffing company.
What was considered normal for generations past is a new kind of milestone for older Gen Zers, who spent some of their college or early working life behind a screen. But that doesn’t mean they’re happy about it – only 4% want to work completely remotely.
Perhaps that is why more than a third of the students surveyed by LaSalle said they continue to look for a job despite the fact that they have a job. It is likely that they are looking for a hybrid arrangement, both in terms of hours and location. If you ask them, the person will still bang away – if only it’s been done for a while.
Other research on Gen Zers currently in the workforce suggests as much. The generation leads the group of workers who Wants to go into the office, reports a new Morning Consult, because of how productive they are—and how many opportunities there are for mentorship—when they’re there.
“At a generational level, the vast majority of Generation Z adults do most of their work in person compared to their older counterparts, and this younger cohort also shows the strongest overall preference for working in a desk,” the report reads. But some parts of the in-person experience still give them pause — like long commutes, a worse work-life balance, and a less comfortable setup compared to remote work.
The looming threat of them re-wearing their stiff pants and button-down shirts probably isn’t as dire as some media coverage suggests, as long as it’s not every day. But the massive percentage of General Xers who have full-time jobs lined up compared to the much smaller percentage who actually want said jobs is a good indicator of where the workforce is headed.
at home, Mentorship opportunities Hard to get it
Since early 2020, when the tech giants insisted that remote work would be permanent, Tom Gimple, founder and CEO of LaSalle Network, maintained that it would not and that when profits inevitably fell, companies would pull staff again. Survey results, he said luck, He defends his position.
“Whether it’s for three or four days, companies either oblige or strongly encourage employees to return to the office, because productivity is higher when employees are physically together,” Gimple says.
He adds that this is not Gimbel’s personal belief, and many disagree with him. In fact, extensive research has found that splitting core work hours and half a week into telecommuting and in-person work is best for most people — and for their productivity. Gimbel states that LaSalle Network workers come into the office three days a week.
But he says employees, especially newcomers, should attend as often as possible. He says the training and development available to remote workers cannot compare to what is available to their in-person counterparts.
If new employees have access to an office space, Gimbel highly recommends using it. “It can be what sets them apart from the rest and helps them make an impact from the start – for the company and their career.”
But he says that once things get the hang of it, a hybrid business is probably the way to go.
While some data and Gen Z graduates with full-time jobs suggest WFH’s rankings are declining, telecommuting expert Nick Bloom doesn’t think telecommuting is completely over. As the former CEO of Slack said, the bottom line about going back to the office, wherever companies have landed, is that people generally don’t like being told what to do.