New Kids on the Office Block

Gen Z is entering the workforce with a different mentality from the hires before them. Smart leadership can turn generational divides into a positive

- LAUREN GIELLA

WHAT DO BABY BOOMERS, Generation X, millennials and Generation Z have in common? They are in the same Teams calls or offices at companies across all industries.

Older generations are used to traditional office structures that now seem foreign in the five years since COVID-19 forced many people to work from home. But since 2020, a new demographic has entered the workplace, with different expectations.

While this may cause some tension, smart leaders know that multi generational workforces can drive success. In industries like hospitality and retail, shift work brings people of all ages and experience levels together.

“I think what's really cool about these multi generational workforces is that whether or not they’re related, it feels like family—and family can be both positive and challenging,” Marissa Andrada, a chief human resources officer for 20 years at firms including Kate Spade and Chipotle, told Newsweek.

She said that close collaboration when sharing a preshift meal or prepping food side by side allows for an exchange of ideas, skills and experiences. “I know there [are] different characteristics between generations, but how they relate to each other is still at a very human level,” added Andrada, currently chief culture officer at media platform WUF World.

“The ability to...be empathetic towards each other, to work well together, I see that as an interesting thing that generations can bring to the table. They can learn from each other.”