I am writing a book on the best ways to manage Gen Z and would love to hear from anyone about their experience working with people of different ages. Thanks so much!

32 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 5,2024 at 12:39PM UTC

   Tell them to grow up, don't be abusive in the workplace, sabotage is never acceptable, high levels of interpersonal aggression will get you fired, criticism is not personal. Gen Z tend to be absolutely horrid to older people and to each other.

2. Sheila Knight-FieldsSeptember 5,2024 at 1:03PM UTC
   1. Set clear expectations for performance and resulting outcomes. Yes, it’s work and you are expected to meet set standards. We can talk about a promotion after you’ve contributed above and beyond what’s expected.
   2. It’s ok to use sick time as needed but it should be used appropriately.
   3. Jobs are work and sometimes you won’t like it. However, you need to understand how to cope. You will “have to put up with that crap” on occasion.
3. AnonymousSeptember 5,2024 at 1:28PM UTC

   Wear a body camera while at work !

4. AnonymousSeptember 5,2024 at 1:39PM UTC

   Can you say more about this?

5. AnonymousSeptember 5,2024 at 1:36PM UTC

   OMG SOOO used to dealing with 3 and 5 nearly daily.

6. Janet GrangerSeptember 5,2024 at 1:36PM UTC

   Thanks so much for your feedback! I'd love to use all your comments in my book as examples; I will NOT use your names, just what you said. If you are NOT ok with that, will you please let me know? Very much appreciated!

7. AnonymousSeptember 5,2024 at 4:12PM UTC

   Just some input: I wouldn't be interested in anonymous advice/insights from sources I couldn't vet were I reading your book. It might be worth making sure you're getting advice from people whose experience actually speaks to what you're looking for, and whose Gen Z employees are happy with them!

   Also: Ask Gen Z!

8. AnonymousSeptember 5,2024 at 1:55PM UTC

   Really? This has never been my experience. I work with lots of gen z we have an extensive intern program and have several gen z full time employees. They do stand for themselves which I truly admire. They stick to the rules and are very generous and smart. I’ve had some bad baby boomer employees with pretty nasty attitudes. Not the rule thank goodness! Maybe it’s the type of business I’m in. Hmmm.

9. AnonymousSeptember 5,2024 at 2:38PM UTC

   Gen Z, in my experience, have a lot of boundaries and are offended at the slightest criticism. I have to agree that they are not able to focus for long stretches so they do stretch out their work beyond expected delivery dates. They don't buy into the hustle of work. They want to complete everything leisurely.

   I had 2 Gen Z employees at 2 different companies that needed to take mental health days off after we were on deadline for projects. Mind you they only worked 4 or 5 hours of OT total spread over 2 to 3 weeks but it gutted them both that they were expected in the office every day and at their desks for at least 6 hours per day during the projects.

   I had to be a hall monitor during these projects because they just couldn't focus for more than 2 hours at a time.

   I no longer choose Gen z for my tight deadlines.

10. AnonymousSeptember 5,2024 at 3:21PM UTC

    I am Gen X. Mental health days? I wish! I feel like Gen X is on permanent burnout mode from picking up the slack from the rest of the Gen Z'rs that can't hack it.

11. AnonymousSeptember 5,2024 at 3:45PM UTC

    Yes. Pretty close to my experience

12. CgSeptember 5,2024 at 2:51PM UTC

    Tips in how to avoid creating a toxic workplace from a gen x former engineering manager who learned some lessons along the way, And fyi these work for any age range.

    1. Expect there to be an amount of conflict avoidance. Many people will not tell you when there is a problem, so you need to be proactive in creating a safe space to talk about their issues. Issues are good to know about because often they will be an indication of a place that improvement could benefit the company and your team. Encourage problem solving as a team where appropriate.

    2. Allowing people to self care (aka mental health days etc) is beneficial to everyone at every age. Don't be the jerk who thinks because you didn't get this no one should.

    3. Pay and treat people fairly and uniformly. We are beyond the time where we can get away with unfair labor practices and if you think these are acceptable you have no place being a manager of anyone.

    4. Be respectful and mindful of things like pronouns and preferred names. This is non negotiable in today's workplace and part of being professional and respectful. Its difficult and you will make mistakes, so go by peoples names if you have issues with pronouns. It costs you nothing to call people what they want to be called.

    5. Deal with issues early, fairly and empathetically. Pay attention to what's going on on your team. One toxic worker can ruin it for everyone.

    6. Dont make a meeting out of an email, or an email out of a teams/slack message. And never never call someone on the phone without a heads up (preferably avoid if at all possible anyways) That's anxiety inducing.

    7. Your 1:1 s should always allow time for employees to tell you what's going on. You should be asking "where are you blocked?" "Hows x going" "are there any tasks you'd like to take on" "hows your workload" and other inviting questions that allow you to rightsize your work and get ahead of when you need more resources. Its shouldn't be a place to just divy out work. Make time to give people assignments separate from 1:1s

    8. Be mindful of ways you might not be aware that people who are not like you might be impacted by your actions and words. If someone trusts you enough to tell you you did or said something, thats a compliment that they trusted you. Not an attack on your values or humanity. Come from a place of empathy and adjust.

    There's more but this should get you some good advice for all.

13. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 12:32AM UTC

    I love your list. Especially #6-#8.

14. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 5:58PM UTC

    These are great! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience.

15. AnonymousSeptember 5,2024 at 4:23PM UTC

    I have managed people of all ages. I don’t find there are issues particular to any age or generation. The concept seems bizarre and discriminatory to me. I do not hold preconceived opinions solely based on age. I see from responses that others do. That makes life difficult for Legal and HR.

16. Christina BlackSeptember 5,2024 at 9:52PM UTC

    Poor Gen Z, always getting pooped on. People here do realize they are the youngest in the workplace. Every New Generation that hits the workforce, the older Gens alway have some problem with them one way or another. This is historical cycle. I'm concidered a Gen X, Gen Y or Millinial, I was born in 1984 and it seems this changes every few years. But my work ethic has never been defined by my generation. Maybe I'm a 1 in a million type person, however my grandparents and parents deserve credit for the employee I became not a made up group of people that happen to be born the same time I did. I am sure there are many people who are Gen Z, that are incredible employee; and blogs and writting a book like this only groups them into the rest. Lessoning thier chances of success. Grouping people isn't fair. Grouping them by generation and work ethic is even worse, because now your stereotyping a bunch of strangers.

17. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 1:44PM UTC

    Exactly, I'm Gen X, and our claim to fame was being lazy and not achieving anything, like the grunge rock we listened to portrayed, obviously right lol.

    I remember hearing all this about Millienials and that they wont stay in a job since their life was looking at phones and therefore don't have an attention span.

    I hired a Gen Z on my team recently, he was an intern that just rocked it, so we found a place to keep him. His energy is contagious and his eagerness to learn makes us all better.

    I feel important aspects for working with the newest generation are explaining the context and why of what we are doing. Can you do XYZ then explain how it affects the bigger picture and why its valuable to the company. No generation liked busy work when we entered the workplace which is how tasks can feel if the bigger reason for it isnt communicated.

    As a product a book about working with Gen X will sell, like books about other generations, it is still helpful, since its about working with the newest members of the workforce.

18. CM VecinoSeptember 8,2024 at 1:18PM UTC

    "Grouping them by generation and work ethic is even worse, because now your stereotyping a bunch of strangers".

    Yes, but that sells and that's what counts :)

19. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 1:39AM UTC

    Are you currently working with Gen Z? If not, it's something that you need to experience in real time. It's the mindset, knowing that they will not stay in same job for more than 5 years but you need to learn their why. There's so much, get in there, get your hands dirty, just make sure it's after yoga and before tee times. Their value is amazing!

20. AnonymousSeptember 7,2024 at 6:34PM UTC

    Actually you’re lucky if they stay in the job past 2 years. University career center person here. They get bored.

21. AnonymousSeptember 9,2024 at 11:47AM UTC

    The study is that this generation will 'look' for another role because they want more money and that so far is their cadence of staying 'long' at a job. The 'bored' comes from 'why am I not in charge by now' instead of solid experiences. They'll be fine, we just need to learn 'what's going to keep you around' for them and have a plan in place with opporutnities and then it's up to them. Can't make them want it more than what they'll put in to it.

22. Miranda PingitoreSeptember 6,2024 at 12:50PM UTC

    Remember that everyone is an individual.

    Treat everyone, regardless of age or how you wish to be treated.

23. Dianne ASeptember 6,2024 at 2:29PM UTC

    Mental Health is key. This age group needs a lot of attention to self awareness and culture to feel a part of the "family" they need to know how they are doing...counseling and coaching is so key to our success

24. AnonymousSeptember 7,2024 at 2:48AM UTC

    This forum also has baby boomers. ?

25. AnonymousSeptember 7,2024 at 2:54AM UTC

    What a great idea! I am mostly a millennial as I’m born right before the millennials began. I manage Gen Z’s.

    Interaction and feedback is very important to them. Engage with them and allow them to share ideas. They def like flexibility but they like having routine and guidance. The most successful Gen Z’s are go getters. They love technology but I’ve trained them to use a landline to answer office phones. They can be an amazing source for our teams but need training, flexibility and feedback.

26. Shitij BhatnagarSeptember 7,2024 at 12:17PM UTC

    Great Idea, I would suggest to look at one of the chapters from Simon Sinek's book 'Leaders Eat Last', that talks about millenials, younger generation and managing them. Thanks

27. AnonymousSeptember 7,2024 at 6:33PM UTC

    Oh gotcha! Gen Z, you’re right are on tik tok.

28. Shitij BhatnagarSeptember 10,2024 at 2:58AM UTC

    Hello, not really suggesting any bias... the aspects of misalignment of purpose, reducing attention span, nor being challenged enough - these effect older generations less than the new ones, and are exponentially seen increasing generation to next... I liked the book and hence recommended...I learnt from it, more stress on what we can do in our control and some reasons why the next generation is moving in the direction they are .. it was an eye opener for me. Good luck. Thanks.

29. Shitij BhatnagarSeptember 10,2024 at 3:33PM UTC

    Thanks for your reply, I do see your point.. however if you get a chance to read the chapter on millennials/younger folks, you may very well get the writer's view and that of several studies in terms of what's going on with the next generation (their confusions or response to too much information) by the virtue of being born in a digital world, where online identity has hacked their true life, era of instant gratification (and their loneliness too) and I can frankly feel that stands true (in sense of a continuing effect) with Gen Z also.. Thanks.

30. Shitij BhatnagarSeptember 12,2024 at 2:55AM UTC

    I respect your view

31. Shitij BhatnagarSeptember 12,2024 at 2:56AM UTC

    I respect your view, good luck to you

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