Coming Soon - The Next Wave for Corporate

With the world wide pandemic entering the second year now, organizations across the globe has transformed the way of working. Companies which can afford remote working has defined new rules and definition which is new for work environment – Hybrid Model, Remote Working, WFX etc.

Organization in manufacturing,FMCG and related processing industries are also redefining their workforce and related policies, process since they can’t afford the remote working considering their business.

Last two years has been a big roller-coaster for many enterprises, while some like in digital,  transformation , online business, tech related goods and services making good advantage of the transformations, there are few like travel, tourism, hospitality, transport , retail etc. are trying to survive  or innovate themselves in new domains.

Amid all these changes and waves after waves of pandemic which is making business to be on the edge, there is one big thing which is gradually happening with possible impact forever, which needs deeper focus, renovation of the current practices by every organization.

This is not about the ongoing covid pandemic impact, but larger issue which will have major impact across the industries – The Entry of Generation Z in to the workforce.

Yes, with the Gen Z born ( between late 1990’s to early 2000’s) getting graduated and entering to the work arena, are we ready to face the new gen aspirations, thoughts and process to align them to our business requirements.

With most of the students studying online/ hybrid from past two years the new graduates will need focus to handhold them in their initial work days. The post graduates would have spent most of their course time in lock-down, they will need greater support and companies can’t expect the same output like from the previous batches.

The ambitions and the fast-track life style will also make project managers to realign their thoughts while managing their new team members. They can’t expect the strict, time bound work schedules which they underwent 10-15 years ago.

The average tenure at work will further get reduced as the job changing will happen quickly if the current role is not matching their interest and will not wait for the natural 3-4 years period we had for any role change as part of career progression. They will quit quicker than earlier batches, so brace for impact!!

This will make companies to make the IJP’s more attractive, time bounded, inclusive, cross skilling. Even the simple policies like leave, attendance will require a relook in this regard.

Employee engagement may need new definition. In addition to the conservative approach we have, innovative ideas, resulted oriented, tech based initiatives will be required to keep employees engaged.

The HR analysis of data will also to be done keeping this age group in mind. The general way of breaking down the information and arriving at some suggestions will have to done in different levels, specially addressing this set of employees.

With only Gen Z will be joining the organization henceforth, its high time companies get ready for the next wave which has already hit the workforce. In this VUCA world, with curiosity embedded employees, they will need a new workplace. The existing employees will see a brand new work culture evolving in front of them, which is here to last for many decades to come.

Closing note – Gen Z Workforce will also join with different thoughts, alternative ideas, quick actions, which can bring positive additions to our existing process and work-styles, however, how we adopt to them will make the difference for the growth of the organizations.

Disclaimer:  None of the above points are related to any particular organization. This write up is based on authors understanding through discussion in various forums, interaction with people managers, reading of articles on evolving situations and experience gained in people management domain.