Do Gen Z workers need etiquette training?
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Earlier this month, a manager shared a screenshot on social media, showing how one of his Gen Z team members took leave without mentioning the pretext. The email addressed to him read, “Hi Siddharth, will be on leave until 8th November 2024.
Bye". Soon after, another WhatsApp message went viral on social media, where a young employee informed their manager of being late the next day because they stayed back till late at work. Both posts sparked discussions among India Inc.
on what’s an “ideal" way to communicate with managers. While some applauded the direct approach, others criticised the rather casual attitude of young employees. The conversation has, in fact, become a recurring topic of discussion, especially among millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and Gen X (mid-60s to early 80s) since Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) started entering the workforce.
The younger generation is more direct, sometimes even snappy, and does not shy away from defying formal codes, compared to previous generations who appreciate a more conventional, detailed and formal way of interaction. While casual communication can lighten the mood at work, it also risks compromising professionalism and annoying older bosses. Small wonder then, it hasn’t gone down well with the senior leadership.
A US study earlier this year, by ResumeBuilder, found that 31% of the surveyed 782 hiring managers avoid recruiting Gen Z. Additionally, 30% confessed to firing a Gen Z worker within a month of starting. Another survey conducted in October by Intelligent.com found that 8 in 10 hiring managers believe Gen Z workers need “etiquette training", citing issues with dress code, compensation demands, and communication
. Read more on livemint.com
