Managing Gen Z Summer Employees: What Today's Students Expect at Work

Over the summer, you may have more Gen Z employees working for you, whether they are new employees just working over the summer or are increasing their hours. Like with any generation, they have things that they are expecting at work, and it may be different from other generations. As a manager, it is important that you understand their expectations and implement them to the best of your ability.

Change in processes and technology

College students, while newer to the workplace, can offer a lot. While your more experienced employees have years of knowledge, Gen Z employees bring a fresh perspective. Students may be learning about the field in school, so they have a fresh perspective on how the industry is changing, especially in terms of processes and technology. It may be tempting to ignore them and continue doing things they have always been done, but it is important to listen to the ideas and perspectives of students so you can get a glimpse of what the future may hold for your company and your industry at large.

Mentorship program

Gen Z thrives when they have people to look up to in the workplace. Setting up a mentorship program where mentors can aid Gen Z employees can help them stay motivated, especially through the summer months. The program can last for the summer, and you can have the employee and their mentor set up goals to achieve. Gen Z employees thrive on feedback and acknowledgement for their hard work, and a mentorship program has the potential to fill these things for these employees.

Project boards

Gen Z employees love working on projects that align with their goals and skill sets. For at least a summer, create a project board so employees can choose the projects that align with their unique skills and goals. Some Gen Z employees are creative while others are more analytical, and project boards allow them to decide what projects fit them. This will keep them inspired and motivated through the summer since they are working on things that matter to them. This is also a great way for them to potentially learn and try new things, which will help them grow in their career.

Collaboration

Gen Z grew up surrounded by technology and social media, all of which has led them to collaborate with others. For the most part, this generation works well in teams where they can share their ideas and have their voices heard. It is important to listen to them and take their ideas seriously. They are learning new approaches and perspectives in their schooling, so while it may be tempting to diminish them as inexperienced, they have new things to bring to your company that may benefit you in the long term. They want their contributions to the team to be appreciated and implemented within the company and team.

Compensation and benefits

Gen Z knows what they are worth and will fight for fair compensation and benefits for their work. They see how expensive things have been recently, so they strive to work for compensation that fits their lifestyle and living needs. Living needs can be offset by both compensation and other benefits, but it is still important that your employees can make ends meet. Offering things like meals in the office, health insurance, and retirement accounts can help your Gen Z employees plan for their future while taking care of their current needs.

Communication and transparency

While communication has always been crucial for the workplace, Gen Z student employees expect a clearer, more transparent form of communication. They desire to know information about how the goals of the role fit in with the overall operation of the company. They have a strong desire to learn and grow in their career, and to do this, they need communication that can help them progress forward. Gen Z employees know that withholding information that is pertinent to their role and the company will leave them feeling left out of the loop, so it is important to let them know things that are happening and how their role fits in.

Work-life balance

Gen Z student employees are likely on summer break from their college courses. This means that while they are working to earn and save money, they still want to value their time outside of work. They may want to travel with friends and family, or partake in hobbies once they clock out. These employees expect that they will be able to have a great work-life balance. Allow them to take time off, especially if they let you know ahead of time when they expect to take off. They may also seek alternatives to the traditional 9-5, so allow them to have some flexibility if they are still able to get their work done.

Gen Z student employees have things they expect from their employers, and it is crucial that you try to be aware of and implement them for the summer employees.