Offering the right benefits is critical to retaining good talent across all demographics – and the Gen Z employees who represent the future of the global workforce are no exception.

Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z’s oldest members are turning 26 this year. As of 2020, this generation totaled 67.06 million people in the United States – or one in five of all Americans.

Gen Z is here to stay! And if you want “stay” to mean “at your company,” consider offering these up-and-coming professionals the following benefits:

What Gen Z is Looking for in Today’s Job Market

1. Flexibility

Even if a fully remote workforce isn’t feasible, give Gen Z the most flexible scheduling options possible. For instance, you could implement a hybrid policy that lets people work from home part of the time. Job sharing, compressed workweeks, and part-time opportunities are also attractive.

• In one recent survey, 73 percent of students and recent grads – a significant portion of the Gen Z population – said they were seeking a flexible work schedule.
• Gen Z workers are also drawn to benefits that help them maintain work/life balance. This ranges from financial management perks to mental, as well as physical, health coverage.

2. Career Guidance and Advancement Opportunities

While they don’t want to be micromanaged (and who does?) Gen Z workers do want help to navigate their work experiences. They seek frequent feedback, mentorship, and the right level of support as they flex their professional and creative muscles. And they keep their eyes open for creative projects that will help them develop their skills.

• Twenty percent of Gen Zers surveyed said they would stay with an employer who offered the right upskilling and reskilling.

3. Culture, Collaboration – and Fun

Strong peer relationships, networking, and socializing are high priorities for a significant percentage of Gen Z workers. They turn to such platforms as crowd-source reviews about the employee experience to determine where they will pursue their careers.

• Free food does work! Gen Z employees have noted that free workplace lunches where coworkers eat together help them bond and stay engaged. If your budget is tight, you can enjoy free snacks in comfortable break areas.

4. Social Responsibility

Last but not least, Gen Zers are passionate about making a difference. The best among them – like those across all demographics – are happiest working with an organization that shares their values. Protecting the environment, being a good corporate neighbor, and keeping diversity, inclusion, and equality (DEI) in the forefront are high on their “must-have” lists.

• Just one example: 88 percent of Gen Zers found it important that potential employers ask about their preferred gender pronouns.

Call on us to Help with Your HR Practices Today!

Meeting your employees’ needs for competitive compensation and benefits can be challenging if yours is a small to mid-sized business. Often, outsourcing benefits administration and/or other HR functions can be the perfect solution. KeyHR is aligned with preferred provider companies to meet your unique requirements while helping you control costs, save time, optimize your workforce, build revenue, and minimize risk. Contact us today to learn more.