Millennials vs Gen Z in the Workplace: Who Takes the Lead?
What differs Millennials from Gen Z? Both are the majority of population in the workplace. They adapt quickly and contribute greatly to the companies’ growth.
Both Millennials and Gen Z grow up in the internet era. The difference is that Millennials once lived in a time where internet was still not massive yet, while Gen Z may have been exposed to internet since birth.
Today, both Millennials and Gen Z are taking part in the workplace and holding important roles. The question is, how do they serve the roles in the workplace? Does one overshadow the other?
Millennials vs Gen Z: The Differences
Many people think that Millennials and Gen Z are the same, while the two are distinctive. Let’s explore the differences!
- Year of Birth
The birth year of Millennials and Gen Z is the main difference. Millennials are currently between their late 20s and early 40s, meaning that they were born in the range of 1981 to 1996. Meanwhile, Gen Zs were born starting from 1997 to 2012. The current age of Gen Z is between 11 and 26 years old.
Today, Millennials are on the way to or even have been stepping on the top of their career. On the other hand, Gen Zs are just stepping into the workforce—some of them were even mere fresh graduates. - Working Principles
Millennials strongly stick to their values, beliefs, and principles, which may lead to the perception that they are stubborn. However, their idealism allows further negotiation or compromise. In contrast, Gen Zs pay more attention to the practicality of the decision they make.
Both generations complete each other. Companies cannot only recruit or accommodate just one of these two. The idealistic traits of the Millennials collaborated with the pragmatic traits of Gen Z will help companies flourish. - Target in Career
The Millennials are known for their tendency to switch jobs or move workplaces to pursue higher positions or better salaries. They are looking for a company that rewards their contributions with appropriate compensations.
This contradicts Gen Zs who prefer staying in one place as long as the place suits their values or principles. Salaries and benefits are not big problems as long as their basic needs are met. They prioritize comfort and the ability to develop in line with their aspirations more. - Technology Usage
The difference is also seen from the way they use technology. Millennials adapted to the booming digital technology in their teenage years through a phase of trial and error, while Gen Zs were raised with high-tech environments since they were little. Gen Zs are, no doubt, able to utilize technology in a more intuitive manner. - Communication Styles
The communication styles of Millennials and Gen Z are also different. Millennials prefer digital communication such as video call, phone call, etc., while Gen Zs prefer face-to-face communication. For Gen Z, communication through text message or phone call is frustrating. They often encounter challenges in interpreting the intentions or context of the other party, leading to tendencies for overthinking.
No generation is better than the other. The differences are unique combination for companies as they can work together and complete each other. The collaboration between Millennials and Gen Z makes employees and companies grow together.
