Humi, the only employment platform for Canadian businesses, released new data revealing the workplace preferences and priorities of the multigenerational Canadian workforce. For the first time in modern history, there are four generations in the workforce — baby boomers, generation X, millennials and the first half of generation Z. The multigenerational workforce presents a unique challenge for managers, making it more important than ever to understand the unique motivations of each generation.
The insights from the survey challenge generational stereotypes and highlight what factors move the needle on employees’ job satisfaction, bridging the gap across generations. The poll found that the majority of employees from all generations agree on flexible work hours, a sense of achievement, and company culture as top priorities in their job satisfaction. However, the generational divides were most evident in their preferred working environment (remote vs in-office) and to what extent they value job security and professional development opportunities.
Key findings:
- Hybrid work is considered most conducive to productivity and job satisfaction across generations – When it comes to the ratio of in-office versus remote days, Gen Z (44 per cent), gen X (30.5 per cent), and baby boomers (30 per cent) prefer mostly in-office days with occasional remote days, while millennials prefer mostly remote days with occasional in-office days (36.8 per cent).
- Job security is decreasingly a priority with age, but a top concern for gen Z – Job security is considered a must-have for more than half of gen z (54 per cent), 43 per cent of millennials, 41.7 per cent of gen X, and 35 per cent of baby boomers.
Flexible work accommodations
A combination of in-office and remote work is the most popular setup for employees’ productivity and satisfaction. 30.8 per cent are in favour of mostly remote with occasional in-office days, and 31.7 per cent are for mostly in-office with occasional remote days.
Despite popular belief, gen Z actually favour working mostly in-office over working mostly remotely. Half of gen Z (52 per cent) find a hybrid environment conducive to their productivity and job satisfaction, favouring mostly in-office with occasional remote days (44 per cent) to mostly remote with occasional in-office days (34 per cent). Millennials are the strongest proponents of a fully remote work environment (29.7 per cent), followed by gen X (22.5 per cent), the baby boomer generation (18.3 per cent), and then gen Z (18 per cent). The baby boomer generation is the strongest proponent of a fully in-office work environment (25 per cent), compared to gen X (12.8 per cent), millennials (7 per cent), and gen Z (10 per cent).
Along with a flexible work environment, half of Canadian employees (54 per cent) value flexible work hours. They are considered a must-have for about one in three millennials (30.6 per cent) and gen X (31.6 per cent). While 14 per cent of gen Z and only 2 percent of baby boomers consider flexible work hours a must-have, the majority (66 per cent and 51.7 per cent respectively) indicate they value them very much.
Job security is top of mind
Amidst a challenging economy, job security is a must-have for two-in-five Canadian employees (42.7 per cent). Gen Z prioritizes job security the most, with half (54 per cent) indicating job security is a must-have. The baby boomer generation prioritizes job security the least, with only one in three (35 per cent) indicating it is a must-have for them. 43 per cent of millennials and 41.7 per cent of gen X consider job security a must-have.
Company culture is paramount
Company culture is valued across generations, with work-life balance and a collaborative team environment as the two most popular aspects. Across generations, about three in five Canadian employees indicate that they value company culture very much – 56 per cent of gen Z, 60.7 per cent of millennials, 67.9 per cent of gen X, and 65 per cent of baby boomers. The two most popular factors of company culture indicated by Canadian employees were work-life balance (80.1 per cent) and a collaborative team environment (74.4 per cent).
Achievements and career progression
A sense of achievement is the top motivating factor for all generations – gen Z (30 per cent), millennials (31.4 per cent), gen X (34.2 per cent), and the baby boomer generation (41.7 per cent). However, it was tied with maximizing earning potential for gen Z (30 per cent). Gen Z is also the most enthusiastic generation about professional development opportunities, with half (50 per cent) indicating they value them very much and 42 per cent indicating they are a must-have.
In contrast, only about one in four employees of the older generations considered professional development opportunities a must-have – millennials (27.7 per cent), gen X (26.2 per cent), and baby boomers (25 per cent). Embracing new challenges was the second most common motivating factor for gen X (26.2 per cent) and the baby boomer generation (40 per cent).
“Every Canadian deserves a work environment they can trust and excel in, and this starts with employers listening to their employees’ needs and preferences,” said Courtney Lee, VP, People at Humi. “While it may seem daunting to manage a multigenerational workforce – and there are always nuances that need to be considered – employers should focus on shared core values that transcend generations to increase job satisfaction and empower managers to connect with team members one-on-one to tailor their experience as needed.”
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