Over the last 50 years, the workforce has welcomed Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y. However, times are changing, and with many millennials now approaching their mid-30s and taking on leadership positions within organisations. With Gen Z also into the mix, the workplace dynamics may take an interesting turn. Gen Z, people born in the late 90s to early-mid 2000s, generally share abundant ideological differences with the millennials, people born between 1980 to the mid-'90s. Although there is not much of an age gap between the two groups, differences of opinions regarding culture, career choice, and so on are prevalent. Having all these in consideration, it is better to delve into the situations that may take place in the workplace between the two apparent ‘opposite forces’.
Work habits: Generation Z has work habits that are slightly unlike earlier generations. They practice multitasking in almost all aspects of life-- preparing and editing documents on laptops and then again later on their mobile, integrating work with play, breaking the barriers of the traditional 'right time and place’.
"I have deadlines to catch and after-work plans to catch up to," says Tanisha Noor Islam, a digital marketing associate at a digital marketing agency based in Banani, as she writes a copy on her computer while checking off her tasks for the day on her smartphone.
The millennials, on the other hand, tend to feel more focused and in control when they concentrate their tasks into one station and complete them each at a time.
In the case of sharing a workplace, people hailing from Gen Z, also known as Zoomers, prefer their own separated workstation. They find it easier to focus when they have a spot of their own. The millennials in this regard opt for inclusiveness and shared space as it creates an energetic environment.
"We always have each other's back when it comes to helping with a task or substituting when one of us is unable to do a job for whatever reasons," gladly said Ali Rawnak Islam, a reporter at a news channel, while his co-workers sharing a space were jamming to their favourite song during a tea break.
At the workplace: According to a 2020 Gallup Poll, millennials and Gen Z both prioritise employers that care about their wellbeing, both physical and mental.
Afnan Nawshin took an unpaid leave from work for a week as she wasn't feeling mentally well. She was direct about it when she asked for the leave from her duties as an assistant lead at Shikho, an education technology start-up.
"It's better to complete tasks of five days in two to three days than not being able to complete a day's tasks in a day feeling dispirited," said Afnan.
The New York Times' Emma Goldberg, in an article, wrote that the TikTok generation delegates to their bosses, isn't shy about asking for mental health days, works less once accomplishing their daily tasks, and sets their own hours. This, on the other hand, comes as a shock to work-obsessed millennials, who prioritise work over personal life, and whose careers have always seen overworked and structured days.
Besides, drastic changes have taken place at the offices nowadays in terms of professionalism and office codes. While the millennials have learnt from their workplaces that certain codes of the workplace are to be strictly followed such as maintaining a certain dress code, addressing and behaving in a certain manner apt for the office, the times of Gen Z are breaking more boundaries when it comes to what is considered professional. Millennials are also adapting to this new workplace where the quality and efficiency of work are more emphasised than the codes of attire and ethics.
What they think about each other: Millennial Nasim Rosin, business development manager at Marcopolo.ai., finds that working with Gen Z's is quite difficult if one can't understand their point of view.
"They want different and exciting jobs but lose interest if given repetitive tasks. However, they are quite fun-loving and work hard to finish and get out early," he says. "They are often quite misunderstood. All they need is a proper supervisor who can take the initiative and design a work plan that suits them."
Shams Rahman, a zoomer, thinks that the best thing about working with someone a few years older than him is the mental age gap. His co-workers help him while maintaining a respectful personal space without being condescending which he admires.
"I can freely ask for help anytime I want, because there is a different kind of mental cohesion that exists, rather than the whole senior-junior status quo," said the grateful sports reporter at a national daily.
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