Gen Z doesn&#39;t want to work anymore - or does it? The fact is: satisfaction and motivation are decreasing for many employees. Why is that?

On the one hand, there is a shortage of skilled workers, and on the other, unemployment is rising. We hear about quiet quitting, work-life balance and <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/culture/the-end-of-the-office-how-remote-work-is-changing-the-future-of-work-world" title="Remote-Work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remote work.</a> These are not trendy terms; we are in the midst of a change in the labor market.

Until a few years ago, companies were free to choose between applicants. Anyone who didn't perform well had to fear for their job. Of course, it's still like that today. But the selection of potential replacements leaves a lot to be desired.

Many employers have problems filling vacancies. If you don't have anything more to offer in your job advertisement than free coffee and a fruit basket , you're unlikely to receive any applications.

&ldquo;That has to be enough!&rdquo; is probably what someone from Gen X or older is thinking. Well, it was back then. And that's the crux of the matter. If you compare the situation from previous years, you can see that there were (and still are) mostly hard-working, committed employees. Of course. There was more or less fair pay - but above all: you could build something for yourself with it!

The work situations were different: Anyone who thinks that the digital age makes everything easier for people must also see that with this digitalism came more pressure, more work and more performance . Because no company uses digital tools to relieve its employees and thus give them more free time. In this time saved, other tasks can be completed - more can be implemented - more income can be generated. Very good for the economy.

Employee satisfaction/team meeting

But the workload of each individual employee is increasing. It should be noted that the pay remains the same. Life has become more expensive, and in recent years it has even increased quite drastically. Young people can hardly build their own home without the help of their parents. There is something we need to understand about the younger generations: why work full-time and with dedication if it means they cannot create anything of their own? Some <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/culture/gen-z-and-millennials-are-investing-in-jewellery-sneakers-and-fine-wine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gen Z</a> members may therefore prefer to have free time so that they can at least enjoy their lives more.

According to the <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/at/de/seiten/press-release/deloitte-gen-z-millenial-survey-2023.html" title="Deloitte Gen Z &amp; Millennial Survey 2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deloitte Gen Z &amp; Millennial Survey 2023,</a> four out of ten young people in Austria live from hand to mouth. This means that they have to spend all their income on daily living and have no opportunity to save for major purchases or a home of their own. Given the rising cost of living, many of those surveyed are faced with existential fears. Generation Z in particular is struggling with inflation and rising prices and finds it difficult to look optimistically into the future. This financial uncertainty is contributing to many young people questioning their motivation and commitment to work.

Millennials are caught between the stereotype of &ldquo;lazy Gen Z&rdquo; and the stereotype of &ldquo;Baby Boomers and Gen X criticizing younger generations.&rdquo; Most are torn between the two opinions. The economy has to function , but the desire for work-life balance (aka: work? Yes! But please also make sure you have enough time for family and hobbies) is growing. They are the gap that needs to be filled by the lack of staff.

<h3 style="text-align: left;">The real reasons for lack of work motivation</h3>

When we talk about a lack of motivation to work, we do not mean a lack of desire to work and voluntary unemployment. No, most people want to work. It is just that the workplace situation and the way the boss thinks often lead to this so-called quitting (or actual resignations).

Money is not the number one source of motivation for everyone. One could even assume that money is playing a less and less important role. Adequate remuneration to cover living costs is clearly out of the question. However, inflexibility or a lack of delegation of responsibility are increasingly the trigger for a job change.

An employee who actually wants more free time for his family will still not be happy if he gets a company car instead. Nice to have, but it doesn't change his wish. More flexible working hours or home office would cost the company less, but would result in a happy and motivated workforce.
There are many jobs that could be done remotely. A lack of trust from management towards their team prevents this. It's not just about being able to do your job from home. It's also about being trusted and being valued as a reliable and trustworthy employee. Of course, it must be noted here that remote work is not possible in all industries.

Managers are also facing new challenges. Many managers are faced with the expectation of offering their employees more flexibility and personal responsibility, while at the same time maintaining control over operational processes. Finding this balance is not easy for everyone. In addition, managers themselves are also experiencing increased pressure to perform and must increase efficiency and drive innovation with sometimes limited resources while meeting the needs of their teams.

Mental health is playing an increasingly important role in job satisfaction. According to Deloitte, a third of young employees in Austria feel burned out due to the high workload. 56% of Gen Z and 38% of Millennials report negative experiences at work that have affected their mental health. Despite these alarming figures, less than half of those surveyed feel that their employer takes mental health seriously. Yet company initiatives to support mental wellbeing are a key factor in choosing an employer for over 75% of Gen Z and Millennials.

Work-life balance

Authoritarian hierarchies are a daily occurrence. For many, conversations on an equal footing are unthinkable. It is not uncommon for experienced older men to be lectured by their superiors in a harsh tone. Younger men no longer put up with this. And that is a good thing. If you read the comment lists on social media under posts with job-related topics, you often come across various fears: the fear of having to tell the boss you are sick; the fear of being yelled at again by the grumpy colleague the next day; the fear of asking for a raise. Things that should actually be communicated uninhibitedly in 2024.

If you look at the sum of the individual components, the solution for happy employees is probably the following: appreciation, trust, communication, packaged with appropriate remuneration (corresponding to inflation). If superiors sought to talk to individual employees more often, listened to them and trusted them with more responsibility and independence, many terminations would probably never have been announced.
Many companies have already started to find innovative solutions to meet the new requirements. Some offer flexible working models, additional mental health programs or participation in decision-making processes in order to attract and retain talented employees. But these changes do not happen overnight and require both structural adjustments and a rethink at management level.
 
Photos: Shutterstock

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