Athira Sethu
Kochi, 3 October 2024
Disengagement in the workplace is widespread, cutting across age groups. Therefore, employers have to devise specific strategies to engage their workforce for better productivity, a survey by HR staffing firm, CIEL HR Services said.
According to the survey titled “Navigating the New Era of Talent,” 34 percent of Gen Z said that they feel disconnected with workplace, followed by Gen Y at 31 percent and Baby Boomers at 30 percent. This is a big challenge for most companies who seek to keep their employees connected.
Generally, a good work culture motivates all age groups, and this is the most important driver according to the survey. Among Gen Z, 30% said it is the key factor for them, while work-life balance and career growth are other key drivers. Work culture has more value for Gen Y because according to their views, it drives 44% of their engagement with the company. The Baby Boomers appreciate a good work environment and is well aligned with the company’s mission and values.
Having staff from different generations is as much a boon as a bane, the survey said. The advantages that employers enjoy with diverse generations in the workplace are varied opinions (38%), creativity (28%), and varied skills (20%). The drawbacks that they face, though, are differing work styles (40%), adapting to new technology (31%), and balancing work & personal life (20%).
Commenting on the survey, Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD & CEO of CIEL HR Services said, “The gap between what the employees want and what companies are offering is widening. Evolution in society makes employees more choosy and therefore more dissatisfied. Companies must evolve their engagement models for each generation individually. A one-size-fits-all model just does not cut it, and understanding these differences is key to creating a motivated and inclusive workplace.”
A total of 1,100 employees from various industries, different age groups, gender, and variety of experiences and locations participated in this survey.
Some of the other findings showed that in a multi-generational workplace, there is an opportunity for mentoring (15%), while at the same time presenting challenges of generational stereotypes in the workplace (9%).