Work-life balance and flexible hours
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Gen-Z (born between 1997 and 2012) is expected to make up 27% of the human workforce by next year, according to the Guardian. A generation that grew up with technology, experienced mainly during its student years, the coronavirus pandemic, a generation which in the eyes of public opinion is judged strictly because of the facilities it encountered, but at the same time, it seems to be the one claiming the best possible work package conditions, dramatically changing the data in the labor market.
The habits that this generation carries are in stark contrast to the way of life that the older generations learned to follow. The need for work-life balance is undoubtedly one of the main issues that Gen-Z prioritizes. As this generation invades the labor market, it can be seen that the wider work culture is changing, i.e. the so-called “hustle” of hard schedules and countless hours at work is gradually being removed and well-being at work is now a non-negotiable norm.< /p>
The interaction of these individuals with their older colleagues is also of great interest. Human resources expert Mervyn Dinnen told the Guardian that Gen-Z are used to informal communication and a specific way of socializing, often preferring a more witty approach to messages that get straight to the point and reveal something about the their priorities. The informal communication code used by Gen-Z often causes friction with older colleagues who often accuse this age group of being disrespectful.
“Your email is finally getting to me. I'm on the beach drinking a Pina Colada'
What they ask from their employers and the importance of working from home
The demands of Gen-Z workers are quite different from those of previous generations. The new generations mostly prefer working from home or at least a combination of the two. Gen-Z's desire to work from home and flexible hours appears to be heavily influencing the job market, playing a large role in the field of study they choose. The biggest impacts are found in industrial jobs because they cannot offer work from home. Research presented by the Economist in Britain shows that the field of computer science (Computer Science) showed an increase of 50% from 2011 to 2020. In another research, where the assessment of employers in the US is presented, the desire of the new generations is confirmed for jobs that offer work from home. In particular, research carried out by a graduate consultancy and presented to the Economist regarding the evaluation of employers, shows that in 2008 the top ten were large banks and the big 4 (EY, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC), while in 2021 seven of the top ten places were giants of technology and media.
“Better without a job than in a toxic environment” – Gen-Z Cypriots speak to “K”
Five young Cypriots who belong to the Gen-Z age group talk to “K” about the working conditions they prefer, the personal-life balance, the demands they have from their employers, as well as their opinion about work from home. Comparing the opinions of the five young people, several elements mentioned above are found that characterize Gen-Z, while financial and mental health come to the fore among young Cypriots. Regarding working from home, the combination of the two (workplace and home) is preferred. Working from home may seem ideal for most Gen-Zers, but young Cypriots seem to prefer working from the office as well, mainly for reasons of social interaction with their colleagues. Another thing worth mentioning is the 9-5 schedule. They consider that the specific schedule does not allow them to engage in other activities after work.
Georgos, 25 years old
Work-life balance is very difficult to achieve. This always depends on the daily tasks and how flexible your job title is to be able to get things done during the day or week. I definitely prefer to work from anywhere (not just from home), but I would be open to a hybrid office model with full flexibility, as sometimes I think the office can be useful and to collaborate with my colleagues. Flexibility and more money are always perks when choosing a 40-hour-a-week job.
Maria, 21
Work-life balance is critical to well-being, allowing sufficient time for rest, family and personal interests, thereby improving my productivity and my satisfaction with my work and employers. My demands from employers include a healthy and safe working environment, fair pay, respect and recognition for my work, and opportunities for career advancement. I also wish for support in any personal problem of mine and understanding.
I prefer working from the office, but would like the ability to work from home 1-2 days a week. So there is flexibility and balance along with the benefits of collaboration and social interaction that the office offers, which I prefer. I want to have the freedom to adjust my work schedule to maintain a good work-life balance. At the same time, I want a stable and safe work environment with opportunities for professional development and recognition of my efforts.
Despina, 26 years old
What is requested from the employers is that the working hours are respected, that you give a satisfactory salary and in the case of Overtime, that they pay. Regarding the climate in the workplace it is particularly important, because no employee can work in a toxic climate. It is better to be out of work than to be in a toxic environment, since mental health is very important and work should not interfere with personal life. Therefore there must be a balance between professional and personal life and one should not interfere with the other. If it intervenes it should be allowed to the minimum. Working remotely is a big plus. Personally, I would like a combination of two days on site and three days remote, as I think there are advantages to combining the two.
Yiannis, 22 years old
It is very important to be able to separate work from your personal life, so that your work does not end up being routine. I disagree with working from home, but it seemed necessary in times like the coronavirus. The main reason I disagree is because I believe working from home makes you anti-social. The ideal working conditions are that the environment where you will work is pleasant so that it creates an appetite for work, that all tasks are five days, that there is a change in the schedules and that the frequent 9-5 stops. The most important thing is that salaries must be increased to motivate us young people.
Maria, 23
My working hours are 08:00 – 17:30 with an hour lunch break, so basically there is not enough time to do your personal chores or even have an activity in your free time. Why? Because if you study like me at 17:30 (if you're lucky and study on time of course) by the time you get home in traffic it's 18:00. When will you cook and rest? In some cases, I might prefer to work from home so I can have more flexible hours and be able to do the activities I want. But this may also require very proper organization so that you don't get away, neither do you work too much, nor don't you not get the work you should. For me, the ideal is to have flexibility in the schedules and to have the option to work some days from home. Of course, it's also the financial aspect, now with inflation and accuracy with a salary of around €1200 you can barely make ends meet.
An occasional “fashion” or are they here to stay?
Gen-Z is characterized by its destitution on issues previously taken for granted by employers, limited rights, unpaid overtime, limited insurance and less money. Many young people, mainly abroad, quit their jobs if their demands are not met. On the other hand, there are not a few cases of employees who saw the exit door due to their behavior, despite their effectiveness. But the gradual shift in work culture thanks to Gen-Z, which prioritizes mental health over long hours, cannot be ignored. Some adapt to the old, but others do not. The bet is whether the habits of Gen-Zers are here to stay or will simply be a bubble.
With information from Kathimerini.gr, Guardian, Economist, BBC
