Humanity First: Meeting the Needs of the Next Gen Workforce

Humanity First: Meeting the Needs of the Next Gen Workforce

“Bringing humanity back to work, employers will have to recognise that their employees are not human resources, but resourceful human beings...” Sid Madge

Millions of people around the world have used the pandemic and the enforced global pause it created to take a fresh look at their lives and work out what they wanted to do with the rest of it. The result: The Great Resignation, or The Great Re-evaluation, where many, many people decided that they didn’t want to go back to the pre-Covid-19 grind in a stressful job where they were underappreciated and dehumanised. 

The balance of power has shifted away from employers offering zero-hour contracts, ‘take it or leave it packages’ with minimal wiggle room, limited flexibility or work which leaves their people totally unfulfilled. It’s time for a more human approach to re-enter the workplace - and it will be needed if employers are to attract and keep good people in this new world of work. 

Every one of us is unique, and the one size fits all approach which many employers have adopted will no longer work. Instead, they need to embrace greater care, compassion and flexibility. To do good work, people need to feel trusted and empowered. Employers have learned that if they set clear outcomes and give people the freedom to complete those with flexibility around their lives then they are often even more engaged and productive.

The Next Gen of workers - Gen Z, now entering the workforce in significant numbers - are no longer happy to slide into someone else’s system unless it delivers on their purpose too. 

Bringing humanity back to work, employers will have to recognise that their employees are not human resources, but resourceful human beings. They are not easily replaceable cogs in an industrial production system, they are people who either decide to engage and do their best work or go elsewhere. Humanity and flexibility are key. 

At Meee, we believe there are three key characteristics which will differentiate the winning organisations from the losers in this new and challenging environment: Curiosity, Courage and Kindness.

At Meee we exist to inspire everyone, everywhere, every day to Find, Live and Give their Magic to become the Magic Makers to transform ourselves, our organisations and our communities. Together we can create the new workplaces of the future that are human, productive and purposeful.

 

Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash