RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With return-to-office mandates driving workers back to the office together, new norms are rapidly emerging as the multi-generational workforce settles into new rhythms. For many Gen Z workers who launched their professional careers remotely, this is their first time stepping into an office—working side by side with Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomer professionals who bring their own generational expectations, habits, and lingos.
According to a new survey from Standley Systems, Gen Z workers are ushering in new workplace norms as they step into the office, with nearly eight out of 10 creating social media content that “romanticizes” their workplace.
To explore this phenomenon, Standley Systems partnered with the third-party survey platform Pollfish on the Standley Systems 2024 Office Culture Report, surveying 500 Gen Z office professionals who work in an in-person office environment at least three days per week to explore the expectations, realities and shifting norms of today’s work environment.
Key findings include:
- Gen Z Navigates Generational Jargon Wars with Weekly Searches: Office jargon from older generations sends 68% of Gen Zers scrambling online to decode buzzwords weekly, while simultaneously injecting their own slang into the office lingo pool.
- Gen Z’s Office Besties are Boomers, not Zoomers: 64% of Gen Zers say they clash more with the work habits of fellow Gen Z peers than with older generations, and feel the least friction with Baby Boomers, followed by Gen X and Millennials.
- Gen Z’s Office Glow Up is Very Demure, Very Mindful: Gen Z’s aesthetic obsession extends to the office, with 88% personalizing their workspace to reflect their personal aesthetic, and 43% saying they’ve modified their office aesthetic based on social media trends. 76% of Gen Zers have created content that “romanticizes” their office life online, but they want to keep it polished and poised: 50% think posting about office life online should be done with a degree of professionalism.
- Gen Z’s Romanticized Office Infrastructure: 59% of Gen Zers bring their own twist to tools like printers and copiers, seeing them as "the heartbeat of the office"—both essential operationally and part of the office aesthetic. 40% said they prefer the integration of digital technology with norms such as printed documents, in-person communication, and physical file storage.
Having navigated remote education during the pandemic, and often starting their careers remotely, Gen Z now faces the challenge of adjusting to a structured, multi-generational workplace that’s been evolving for decades. With return-to-office mandates on the rise, company leaders must proceed with care as they bring teams together in-person and nurture a culture that allows team members to find their place and thrive.
“Gen Z brings a fresh, digital-first perspective to the workplace—but with unmatched resiliency, independence, and openness to the perspective of others,” said Greg Elliott, Chief Executive Officer of Standley Systems. “Leadership should welcome their entrance into the office and use it as an opportunity to create an environment and culture that not just prepares Gen Z to be the leaders of tomorrow but allows them to help shape the present. When we interact and learn from each generation’s experiences and language, our impact only grows–it enables us to achieve something special for generations to come.”
Visit the Standley Systems 2024 Office Culture Report at Standley Systems’ website for the complete survey results.
About Standley Systems
Since 1943, Standley Systems has been committed to supporting businesses with the technology tools and resources needed to grow and thrive in today’s fast-changing world. Originally founded as a typewriter company, Standley Systems now provides a holistic approach to business technology solutions with services covering print and imaging, document management, IT, infrastructure and managed services. Learn more about Standley System’s business technology services at https://www.standleys.com/.
