Generation Z & Mental Health

gen z

Today’s tip is a guest post from a Gen Z (people aged 6-24) employee.

Generation Z will soon become a dominant force in the working world, and with that will come some inevitable changes in the way businesses run. Being a part of Gen Z, I think that I’m qualified to share some insight into how this generation thinks, and what they look for in a company’s culture.

While salary has always been the biggest deciding factor for any generation when choosing their career, Gen Z values this least compared with other generations. There are three factors that are more important than salary, and I am going to highlight them today: Technology, mutual mentorship, and mental health.

Technology

Technology is a tool for others; a hammer to build a house. For Gen Z, technology is the ocean that they swim in. Gen Z grew up watching their parents become the first digitally connected workers in the workforce. It is not unusual to have a parent answer a work email on their phone at night or have a conference call on Zoom while on vacation.

As work becomes more digital and tech-focused, it is important to not only give your Gen Z employees opportunities to utilize the technology they have spent their entire lives using, but also take the opportunity to learn from them in an ever-evolving workplace. As the professional world becomes more tech-centric and modernized, there is a lot you can learn from the generation who lived and breathed these tools from the day they were born.

Mutual Mentorship

Gen Z is known for a lot of things, and perhaps you have a few stereotypes in your head right now: lazy, entitled, risk-averse, non-entrepreneurial, sensitive, the list goes on.

While no generation can be generalized with a few words, many of these attributes come from how they were raised. There is a need for mentorship, for a caring voice in their life to clarify the rules of the world, and help ease the transition from higher education into the real working world.

My university experience included ‘safe spaces’ and rooms set aside for people who felt ‘triggered.’ This doesn’t work in 99% of workplaces, and for some it means a rude awakening.

Gen Z people need older generations to mentor them and help bridge that gap. Older people also need Gen Z to help them learn about technology, and about the way the world is changing. That’s mutual mentorship.

Mental Health

Lastly, mental health is a real issue. A pandemic, some might say. Mental health may not be something that was talked about in generations past, but it’s a big issue today that many Gen Z people are afflicted with. Consider these stats on mental health:

  • 50% of Canadian households are affected by mental health issues
  • 500,000 Canadians per week stay home from work due to mental health issues
  • Depression/anxiety is the 2nd leading cause of disease in Canada

So, what can you do to help a co-worker or employee afflicted by these issues?

  • Give them a safe place to talk about it. Don’t be shy; engage with them. If they had a broken leg you wouldn’t be afraid to ask about how they’re doing with it. When they have a mental injury, you shouldn’t be afraid to engage them either
    Take them for a walk: walking produces endorphins which helps them feel good. It produces forward motion. It also gives them a place to talk about how they’re doing
  • Gen Z is now entering the workforce. There are differences to this generation, but they’re just people, and they respond to the same things anyone else does: Care, encouragement, correction when needed, and above all, relationship.

Focus on these things and the transition will be seamless!

Have a great week,

Sam Throness (Gen Z!)

Recommended Resources:
 

Uncover your strengths and weaknesses with our complimentary assessment. Boost your effectiveness at work and with your team.

Free Resource Library: Access our extensive collection of valuable resources for instant support in your personal and professional growth.

Explore Our Course Library:

Enhance your leadership skills with our diverse selection of courses. Take your abilities to the next level and become a more effective leader and team player.

Testimonials

Our Clients Love the Professional Leadership Institute

Your team will, too! Check out some reviews from our students.
The PLI program was invaluable to our network.
The range of topics delivered, the open dialogue, experience, and examples that PLI brought to each session were outstanding and provided a path for our Franchisees and Managers to look at leadership, coaching, and connecting with their teams in a new light. Many have implemented these strategies in their bakeries and have seen immediate results.
Michelle C.
COBS Bread
Highly recommend to help your team move forward
We have locations around BC and Alberta, so getting people on the same page can be very difficult... Until now. Our entire management team and location managers take the same great courses and then meet monthly online with our coach to apply it to our situation. People are engaged, the courses are excellent, we love our coach, and we are all learning together!
Jason Fawcett
President, Kelson Group
The result has been a transformation of our culture. 
We decided to implement PLI's strategies across the country in over 150 locations and over 3500 employees.  The result has been a transformation of our culture.  People's lives have been positively impacted - professionally and personally.  Morale is high and sales and profits are up as a result.
Daryl Verbeek
Daryl Verbeek
We’ve learned how to fix ongoing personnel issues once and for all
The roadmap laid out set our business up to quintuple in sales.  We've learned how to fix ongoing personnel issues once and for all, attract top talent, and spend our time focused on results, not internal staffing problems.  I highly recommend PLI to you - it's worked for us!
John DeJong
Satisfied Client
I had no idea that running a business could be this fun!
In less than 18 months of working with Trevor, he has transformed my business from being average to exceptional, where mediocrity is not acceptable, where being great is standard.  Working with PLI has allowed me to realize my dream of not simply owning a job, but owning a business.
Justin Bontkes
Principal, Caliber Projects
Our culture has taken major steps forward this year
Our culture has taken major steps forward this year with Trevor’s help.  He is funny, relatable, and his tools are very very practical and have helped us focus and upgrade our teams throughout our retail network. Trevor recently spoke to an employee group, and one person remarked, “I could listen to Trevor all day.”   We would highly recommend Trevor.
Stan Pridham
Founder, KMS Tools
The results have been remarkable
At first, we resisted, “This just won’t work with a law firm.” But we persisted and the results have been remarkable: our client base and profits have steadily improved, and staff engagement and morale is the healthiest its ever been.
Doug Lester
Partner, RDM Lawyers
Helped our fast-growing business become what it is today
I've experienced PLI's approach first hand and it's been crucial to sustaining our growth.  I can't imagine a business that wouldn't benefit greatly from his help.
Brian Antenbring
Founder, TEEMA
Provided practical ways to make positive changes
Trevor was incredibly well-received by the entire organization. He was able to articulate people issues that many of our franchisees were experiencing and provided them with practical ways to make positive changes. We have implemented the Star Chart tool across the organization and see it as vital to building happy, effective teams.
Aaron Gillespie
President, COBS Bread
Scroll to Top

Start Learning Today

For Individuals

Unlock your potential and accelerate your career with sought-after management and leadership skills.

 

Transform Your Organization

For Teams

Book a consultation to discuss your challenges and discover how we can help you build a winning team.

 

Sign Up For Weekly Tips!

Get Weekly Coaching Tips Straight To Your Inbox Every Monday.