The Gen Z population has joined the working group, and they demand changes in traditional work culture. They prefer a good work-life balance. Moreover, like the millennial workforce, Gen Z aims for an improved working environment with more flexible work styles.
However, their type of flexibility is not entirely the same as millennials. Instead, they prefer a flexible career path that allows them to improve their personal and professional lives. In this post, we will discuss how you can embrace this flexibility and adapt to the Gen Z workforce’s needs when coworking in the Philippines.
Adapting to a changing work landscape: Why embracing flexibility is crucial?
The work landscape used to be linear. People take entry-level jobs and stay with the company until they are promoted to higher positions and receive better salaries. However, it has slowly changed as millennials and Gen Z constantly change jobs for better offers and work environments.
Generally, flexibility is better for every generation of workers, not only for Gen Z. Here are some reasons:
- It gives employees a better work-life balance.
- It empowers and motivates employees, resulting in better work efficiency and output.
- It also gives employees more free time and opportunities for continuous learning and skill development to give more to their organizations.
- It makes navigating the ever-evolving work landscape easier for companies and organizations.
Statistics have shown that the Gen Z population has already outnumbered the millennials. They are already joining the workforce and will eventually become most of the population in the workplace. They are not scared to quit and change jobs if it means getting to work in an environment with flexible work schedules. Thus, understanding Gen Z work culture and embracing this flexibility is crucial if workplaces are aiming to attract the Gen Z population and retain them.
Overcoming Challenges in Implementing Flexible Work Arrangements
Implementing flexibility in the current work environment comes with its set of challenges.
First, there are still members of the workforce who may not be ready to embrace change. This poses a significant challenge, particularly since they may have a more prolonged influence on the organization.
Their support is necessary to facilitate the shift. Hence, leadership training is essential to educate them about industry trends and offer strategies to support them and the organization in implementing flexible work schedules.
Moreover, older generations may have difficulties keeping up with technological advancements, making them more hesitant to flexible work schedules. Hence, it is important to offer office training to accommodate this need.
There may also be issues with team communication and collaboration. Some households have no access to a decent internet connection or have no workspace setup at home. Organizations should also invest in productivity tools for easier communication and scheduling. Also, dedicating a specific time in the day or the week for synchronous communication will ensure the team stays connected.
The traditional office setups with cubicles and partitions are also not conducive to open communication and easy collaboration. It can be expensive to redo these spaces completely. Hence, trying coworking in the Philippines is a great way to offer flexibility without the huge costs of new furniture for traditional offices.
Strategies for Incorporating Flexibility into Gen Z Employment
Every change comes with challenges. However, with these strategies, we can make it easier to incorporate flexibility to boost Gen Z employment in our organizations.
Utilize technology.
There are several work productivity and management tools available in the market that can help companies transition to a more flexible work environment. These tools are great for scheduling, setting daily work tasks, keeping track of current projects, and checking in with the employees.
Encourage using online video conferencing tools for collaboration when synchronous communication is necessary.
Empower employees.
Gen Z’s work culture is purpose-driven. They know what they want and their strengths and how to utilize them to work better. Hence, it is important to give them opportunities to lead projects in the organization and allow them to set their daily work tasks and goals.
Lastly, show them you value their work by recognizing and appreciating their contributions to the workplace.
Offer continuous learning opportunities.
This generation aims to improve themselves for personal and professional growth continuously. Support this desire by providing access to free and paid workshops and educational resources. Helping them improve also positively impacts your organization as they can share these new skills to work better.
Promote transparent and positive communication.
Hierarchal organizations do not entice Gen Z because they value collaboration and open communication. Hence, keeping them informed about company goals and changes is important. Also, allow them to voice their inputs about these policies and offer solutions for company problems.
Be open to giving and accepting feedback.
In connection with fostering open communication, business leaders and managers need to learn how to give regular feedback. These constructive criticisms are valuable and help the employees grow. Likewise, be open to their input on company policies and decisions and be open to adjusting them to suit the work environment better.
Prioritize employee well-being.
Lastly, learn to prioritize employee well-being by allowing hybrid work setups. Let them work wherever and whenever they want if they meet their work goals. Be results-oriented.
Moreover, allow them to clock out early once work is done. Give regular mental health breaks. If the company has the budget, give them mental health support and wellness programs perks to show you value their overall health.
Coworking Spaces for a More Flexible Work Setup
Changing the traditional office dynamics to a more flexible alternative may be challenging, but it is doable. It attracts Gen Z to invest their time and talents to help your organization succeed. Trying out coworking in the Philippines is also an effortless way to adapt to this work setup.
M Spaces offers a coworking space solution to help your organization adapt to a more flexible work setup. We have different-sized private offices that can fit 4-12 people that you can rent whenever you need a space for in-person or online collaborations. Our serviced spaces boast an ergonomic office design to ensure employees have a comfortable space for working efficiently and productively.
You can check out photos of these spaces and reviews on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about our other services and meeting room rentals and contact us or email info@mspacesph.com.
