"Self‑absorbed, entitled, and attached to their mobile phones." These are some of the common perceptions of Gen Zs, the generation of people born between 1997 and 2012 that is now entering the workforce. But, according to recent research conducted by ServiceNow, Gen Zs are defying some of these stereotypes in the workplace. ServiceNow findings bust several of these myths and show that Gen Zs recognize the promise of technology to improve work experiences, and are not only eager to learn from other generations, but also believe they can help older generations be more open‑minded.
“Gen Zs represent the future of work. As companies drive digital transformation, which impacts work environments and experiences for all employees, it’s critical to understand, rather than stereotype, our newest generation of workers,” said Pat Wadors, ServiceNow’s Chief Talent Officer.
Today, technology is blurring the lines of work and home life like never before. With easy access to apps and communications technology, employees can be accessible 24/7. For Gen Z workers, who grew up with smartphones in hand, technology is second nature.
With one‑third of our lives spent at work, Gen Zs are eager for technology to help simplify their work lives and recognize that technology can play a more significant role in the workplace. Done right, technology can be the catalyst that enables employees to easily navigate the “moments that matter” throughout their career.
According to the new research, Gen Zs and the Future of Work, ServiceNow found that:
■ 69% of Gen Z workers believe work life should be as easy as home life.
■ 54% of Gen Zs want to use 5G networks at work.
■ 53% of Gen Zs want to use connected/smart devices in the workplace.
■ 83% want the apps they use to be mobile optimized.
■ 49% want apps to be voice activated — More Gen Zs in technical positions want voice activated apps (57% vs. 36% of those in non-tech positions).
■ 43% of Gen Zs want to use both wearable technology and AI tools on the job.
■ Gen Zs in technical positions rate state-of-the-art technology 4x higher than Gen Zs in non-tech positions (12% vs. 3%).
■ In the first weeks on the job, nearly a quarter of Gen Zs say it was difficult to use the apps and software required at their workplace.
As Gen Zs increasingly join the workforce, companies should be prepared not only to create a workplace culture that suits their needs, but also utilizes technology to help simplify their work lives. According to Wadors, “As employers, we have an opportunity to be open‑minded and overcome the stereotypes associated with Gen Zs in the workplace. We should listen, learn, and help create an environment and culture that not only equips Gen Zs to improve and grow, but also enables their managers to adapt to their needs.”
Methodology: ServiceNow’s research, “Gen Zs and the Future of Work,” examines the future of work through the eyes of Gen Zs workers. It was conducted in July and August 2019 via a 10‑minute online survey. A total of 424 Gen Zs between the ages of 18‑22 responded to the survey. These respondents work at companies with 1,000 or more employees, including ServiceNow, and they regularly use a computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet on the job. In addition to this, a separate survey was conducted with 73 ServiceNow Gen Z managers that responded in August 2019.
The Latest
The use of hybrid multicloud models is forecasted to double over the next one to three years as IT decision makers are facing new pressures to modernize IT infrastructures because of drivers like AI, security, and sustainability, according to the Enterprise Cloud Index (ECI) report from Nutanix ...
Over the last 20 years Digital Employee Experience has become a necessity for companies committed to digital transformation and improving IT experiences. In fact, by 2025, more than 50% of IT organizations will use digital employee experience to prioritize and measure digital initiative success ...
While most companies are now deploying cloud-based technologies, the 2024 Secure Cloud Networking Field Report from Aviatrix found that there is a silent struggle to maximize value from those investments. Many of the challenges organizations have faced over the past several years have evolved, but continue today ...
In our latest research, Cisco's The App Attention Index 2023: Beware the Application Generation, 62% of consumers report their expectations for digital experiences are far higher than they were two years ago, and 64% state they are less forgiving of poor digital services than they were just 12 months ago ...
In MEAN TIME TO INSIGHT Episode 5, Shamus McGillicuddy, VP of Research, Network Infrastructure and Operations, at EMA discusses the network source of truth ...
A vast majority (89%) of organizations have rapidly expanded their technology in the past few years and three quarters (76%) say it's brought with it increased "chaos" that they have to manage, according to Situation Report 2024: Managing Technology Chaos from Software AG ...
In 2024 the number one challenge facing IT teams is a lack of skilled workers, and many are turning to automation as an answer, according to IT Trends: 2024 Industry Report ...
Organizations are continuing to embrace multicloud environments and cloud-native architectures to enable rapid transformation and deliver secure innovation. However, despite the speed, scale, and agility enabled by these modern cloud ecosystems, organizations are struggling to manage the explosion of data they create, according to The state of observability 2024: Overcoming complexity through AI-driven analytics and automation strategies, a report from Dynatrace ...
Organizations recognize the value of observability, but only 10% of them are actually practicing full observability of their applications and infrastructure. This is among the key findings from the recently completed Logz.io 2024 Observability Pulse Survey and Report ...
Businesses must adopt a comprehensive Internet Performance Monitoring (IPM) strategy, says Enterprise Management Associates (EMA), a leading IT analyst research firm. This strategy is crucial to bridge the significant observability gap within today's complex IT infrastructures. The recommendation is particularly timely, given that 99% of enterprises are expanding their use of the Internet as a primary connectivity conduit while facing challenges due to the inefficiency of multiple, disjointed monitoring tools, according to Modern Enterprises Must Boost Observability with Internet Performance Monitoring, a new report from EMA and Catchpoint ...
