Culture in the Workplace

In my opinion only! This is nothing new however it fascinates me from where it has stemmed. Is this because our working careers are longer, or fundamentally our values have changed significantly?

Not fitting into the Baby-Boom generation and coming from a working class family, I have raised two Gen Z’s and feel we’ve done a good job – I thoroughly enjoy watching this group develop their own paths and have been lucky enough to have mentored some into their early law careers. Without the freedom that we had as children, this group is coming into the workforce well educated, technology savvy, educated and passionate about the environment and sustainability (and everything that is wrong with it), intolerant of bullies and starting their working careers with large student loans. Can we learn something from them?

We all agree when employing, that finding the right fit for the culture in your business is imperative, however, as business owners we need to be mindful that our workplace culture is projected outwardly as we perceive it. To stay relevant, we need to keep up with all that’s new and changing around us and adapt accordingly.

Ditto, when future employees have the luxury of choosing a workplace I feel they are entitled to ask about culture – we have encouraged them through their years of education to question the norms, not to tolerate bullying, be aware of mental health and care for your peers. Any expectations they have when choosing an employer can also centre around what the Company projects outside of the workplace.

What I am trying to point out is that there has always been a culture in the workplace that had expectations – manifested differently in the ways that it is portrayed? Often referred to as someone who holds ‘a chip on their shoulder’ or ‘feels like the world owes them a living’, these toxic traits are not generation specific and will always be present to some degree if we allow it.

To sum it up, I don’t believe that values have changed significantly however the effect on culture in the workplace that this widening age gap is creating is tricky to navigate. Good leadership and mutual respect of each other will create a positive effect when nurturing a culture of learning and tolerance. It is not the age that is the problem, it is how we manage it.