Pandemic highlights differing staff needs by generation

The pandemic has highlighted the dramatically differing workplace needs by generation, according to the 2021 Nintex Workplace report.

The study reveals how staff needs now differ across the four generations of employees. Generation Z workers want process automation apps; Millennials prioritise better hardware; Gen X desire more flexible work schedule to help care for children and ageing dependents, and Baby Boomers want a raise to prepare for retirement, according to process management and automation firm Nintex.

Most employees in the US study report unexpectedly positive remote work experience and productivity in 2020, but there are notable disparities in how the shift to working from home is impacting workers across every generation as a result of the pandemic. In fact, respondents’ top requests to make work more productive and enjoyable varies significantly from one generation of workers to the next. 

GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES AT WORK

For example, 55% of Gen Z desire additional process software to more easily automate work. Around 50% Millennials would like better hardware and equipment to improve their home offices; while 56% Gen X would most appreciate more work schedule flexibility to care for dependents. Baby Boomers (42%), on the otherhand, prioritise further compensation increases for more work and retirement planning.

Additionally, the experience of working remotely is closely correlated with current job level. Longer-tenured, senior employees report adapting more easily to remote work and higher productivity from home. The study found entry-level employees have struggled more to adapt with work task confusion, living situation challenges (59%), and feeling over-worked more than their more experienced colleagues (63%).

Around 70% of all respondents said their experiences of working remotely during the pandemic have been better and more productive than they expected. However, many feel their work life would further improve with better home-office equipment (58%), the ability to permanently work remotely (51%) and software solutions that help them automate manual and repetitive tasks (39%) to focus on more valuable work.

ADDITIONAL KEY FINDINGS

Other key findings from the report include:

• Benefits of remote work abound. More than two-thirds (67%) of employees report getting work done more efficiently since transitioning from the office to full-time remote work. When asked to describe their better-than-expected experiences, respondents pointed to no commute, fewer interruptions and better work-life balance. 
• Employees report feeling sadder, but not because of remote work. Nearly half (49%) of employees are sadder and lonelier than usual while working remotely during the pandemic, but they attribute this to Covid-19 virus-related concerns and restrictions. Additionally, 56% of employees said current events, non-work-related, have impacted their attitude and productivity at work. 
• Many Boomers’ personal wellness is much less affected by recent changes. Around 45%  of Baby Boomer respondents said there has been no change to their personal wellness while working remotely during the pandemic. Conversely, just 15% of Gen Z respondents reported the same. 
• Managers and more senior leaders are much more excited about returning to the office than staff. Around 63% of managers and directors, and 62% of VPs and C-suite executives are very excited to return to the office as soon as possible. However, only 26% of coordinators and specialists share that level of excitement. 

RETAINING MULTI-GENERATIONAL TALENT

“Senior leadership teams and HR professionals that recognise and respond to the generational needs of their employees will be more successful at retaining and recruiting talent this year,” said Nintex Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer Dustin Grosse. “Work-life challenges vary by individual, but companies can do a number of things to improve how productive and fulfilling work is accomplished by all staff members. That includes making manual, paper-based and repetitive work more streamlined and digital with easy-to-use and powerful automation software.”

Ensuring employees have effective office equipment, like good computers, desktop monitors and/or standup desks is also important. “Looking forward, to attract, develop and retain strong talent HR policies must also provide strong workplace and schedule flexibility and competitive compensation and rewards for important roles and all top performers,” added Grosse.

Another survey on the rapidly-aging workforce has revealed that 83% global leaders believe that multigenerational workforces are “key” to the growth and long-term success of their companies. Click here to read more.