Remote work is a necessity, says younger generations

It’s no secret that many prefer remote work – a study from McKinsey & Company found that 87% of employees who were offered remote work took the opportunity. The study also showed that a flexible work environment is one of the top three motivating factors for finding a new job. 

However, a new study found that many Generation Z workers don’t just embrace the opportunity to work remotely when it’s given – over a quarter of Gen Z won’t work without it. If you want to win the war for talent, creating a flexible work location should be top of mind.

What do younger generations want?

A study from GOBankingRates surveyed 1,000 Americans on their work location preferences. Looking at the results of Generation Z respondents, 29% would prefer to work remotely. Behind that, 27% view remote work as a necessity from their employer. That means over half of Gen Z want some form of flexible work and want alternatives to the traditional office setting. 

The study also found that:

• 87% of Gen Z want to work remotely,
• 86% have a profession that allows them to work remotely, and
• 17% prefer a hybrid model of work.

The young generation isn’t the only generation that wants flexible work. An Axios Harris 100 report found that millennials are the most likely to want a remote option. Eighty-four percent of millennials say that remote work is important, compared to 66% of Gen Z and 68% of Boomers. 

Millennials seem to be as deadset on flexible work as Generation Z, with over half of millennial respondents saying they are likely to switch to a more flexible job even if it means taking a pay cut.

Why remote work is not up for discussion

Remote work is more than just a luxury for some workers – the younger generations see that they can get the same work done without the added stress of commuting to and from work. Now that they have realized the benefits, many are opposed or full-out unwilling to go back to office work.

As the younger generations make up more and more of the workforce, HR needs to pay attention to changing trends when it comes to what these younger generations want to help attract and retain top young talent. 

If you can’t offer flexible work, consider offering other benefits to help attract talent:

• Commuter benefits: Commuter benefits can help cut the headaches of commuting that make many apprehensive to return to work.
• Unlimited PTO: A study from MetLife found that 50% of Gen Z workers think work-life balance is a must. Flexible PTO to travel, take mental health days or whatever else an employee needs, can help employees balance work with personal life, giving back some of the flexibility that employees crave.
• Student loan repayment: Student loan debt is a hot topic. With younger generations coming fresh out of education programs, they’re on the lookout for unique benefits like loan repayment or tuition reimbursement.