Many Workplace Managers Think Gen Z Will Be Tougher to Work With

A significant number of workplace managers believe that members of “Generation Z” –those whose birth years range from the mid-1990s to mid-2000s, and a number of whom are or will soon be entering the workforce—will be more difficult to work with, according to new survey.

Specifically, 36% of managers believe Gen Z will be more difficult to manage, 29% believe they will be more difficult to train, and 26% think they will be more difficult to communicate with than members of previous generations.  Moreover, 16% believe Gen Z will negatively impact their company culture.  The news comes from a survey released yesterday by APPrise Moble, a mobile employee communications and engagement solution.

Interestingly, despite these predictions, only 21% of the managers surveyed said they would change their management style to accommodate or cater to members of Generation Z.

Positive Outlook on Gen Z’s Tech Savvy

One bright spot from the survey was that 44% of managers see Gen Z’s reliance on technology as an advantage for them as they enter the workforce, and 42% indicate that they plan to introduce more workplace technology tools, knowing that Gen Z is accustomed to a “tech-heavy culture.”

“Most millennials remember a time when fax machines and landline phones were commonly used and AOL dial-up was the only way to access the internet, but their incoming Gen Z colleagues only know of these things from history books and movies. Bottom line – this new generation of workers expects technology to touch every facet of their life and companies should embrace this sooner than later,” said Jeff Corbin, CEO of APPrise Mobile.

Respondents also believed that technology would be a significant factor in terms of how they will communicate to members of Gen Z, with 41% believing mobile tech (smartphones, tablets, etc.) will be the most effective means of communication, according to the survey.  Meanwhile, 34% of managers reported that in-person discussions will be the best way to communicate with the latest generation now entering the workforce, and another 11% plan on communicating with them via email.