Why employers must create environments for Generation Z to thrive. And how they can do it.

Chronic exhaustion, anxiety, and little hope of affording a home regardless of how hard they work. That’s exactly how many Gen Z workers in North America report feeling as they begin their careers. Entering the workforce for this demographic (defined as those born between 1997 and 2012) presents unique challenges amidst swelling inflation and an affordability crisis that’s worsening on the alleged tail-end of a global pandemic.

According to the Cigna International Health 2023 survey of nearly 12,000 global workers, 91 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds report being stressed. That same survey found that unmanageable stress affects almost a quarter of Gen Z respondents (23 per cent), while almost all (98 per cent) said they are dealing with symptoms of burnout.

As more workers return to the office on the other side of the pandemic, this less visible (yet no less damaging) shadow pandemic of declining mental health simply cannot be ignored.

In order to succeed, business leaders must conduct more focused efforts to attract and retain these workers by creating supportive workplaces that understand this generation's views on work, their needs and values, and provide professional and personal support to help these employees deal with the challenges they face.

This eBook looks at how the following areas can help organizations do this:

• Learning to support wellbeing in a digital workforce
• Attracting and supporting talent using technology
• Making flexibility and personalization central to the work environment and benefits packages
• Providing wellbeing support anytime, anywhere
• Personalizing mental health and wellbeing services
• Prioritizing digital does not mean ignoring face-to-face