Real reason why Gen Z employees are being fired so quickly at the moment
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
It turns out Gen Z have another hurdle to get over, but it’s not fashion or social media: it’s the workplace.
While it’s long been touted that younger generations aren’t as ready for the workplace and being told what to do, a study has come out to explain why Gen Z in particular is being fired left, right, and centre.
Apparently, six in 10 employers have revealed why they’ve had to make the choice to fire their newly hired graduates just months after hiring them, and it paints a bleak picture of the office.
According to a new survey conducted by Intelligent.com, which nearly 1,000 business owners took part in, it’s all to do with their attitude, and it shone a light on why they needed to cut their staff right down.
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Intelligent’s chief education and career development adviser Huy Nguyen stated in the report: “Many recent college graduates may struggle with entering the workforce for the first time, as it can be a huge contrast from what they are used to throughout their education journey.”
Of course, entering the workforce as a newbie can be stressful, but that’s not really why Gen Z are being sacked.
Some employers have admitted that they are worried about hiring from the younger generation because of their supposed lack of professionalism and communication skills.
Nguyen explained that they are ‘often unprepared for a less structured environment, workplace cultural dynamics and the expectation of autonomous work’.
He said: “Although they may have some theoretical knowledge from college, they often lack the practical, real-world experience and soft skills required to succeed in the work environment.”
This could come down to the fact that Gen Z are thought of as having short attention spans due to them growing up in the digital age, as well as them being prone to being ‘triggered’.
It seems as though the older generation considers them to be high maintenance.
75 per cent of companies surveyed claimed that some or all of their graduates performed unsatisfactory, with 46 per cent stating that Gen Z were not professional.
They also shared that Gen Z lack critical ‘soft skills’.
However, some experts think it’s not their fault as education systems are ‘not preparing students for real-world work’.
HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek: “Education today emphasises theory over practice. Sure, learning Greek mythology is fascinating, but unless you’re teaching it, how does that prepare you to communicate effectively in a corporate meeting or demonstrate professionalism? It doesn’t.”
Jessica Kriegel, chief strategy officer of workforce and labour at Culture Partners agreed and told The Post: “Most of these stereotypes are ingrained in culture about each generation and the short stick torch is passed every 20 years.
“In reality, what makes a great worker is not their generation but a series of other values and beliefs that we derive from our lifelong experiences."
To change this, some have thought that bringing in better work perks to incentivise workers to do better.
Karla Trotman, owner and CEO of the Pennsylvania-based electronic contract manufacturing firm Electro Soft Inc., told The Post that they should look after Gen Z’s mental and physical health, offer hybrid working and other benefits.
She said: “Manufacturing specifically needs to hire Gen Z workers to survive, and we shouldn’t hesitate to hire them, but we do need to appeal to them properly.”