(According to Vietnamworks)
Gen Z – the young generation dominating the job market, yet sparking so much controversy. Putting aside talent and focusing solely on attitude, what are your thoughts?
Gen Z (those born from 1996 onwards) are starting to enter various work environments. This is a generation exposed to technology and social media from a very early age. Recently, right on social media, stories have begun to surface about Gen Z and the “quit if I like” culture. Going to work and quitting is nothing new. However, quitting abruptly, being unreachable by phone, ignoring messages, leaving without a goodbye, or quitting without prior notice. So many complaints have left employers pondering: Is the Gen Z resignation culture a generalization, or is it a true reality?
Why does Gen Z often “quit if they like”?
Gen Z “enters life” with too many job opportunities
That is undeniable. The more modern society becomes, the more industries develop, and the more job opportunities arise for workers. Especially since Gen Z has access to a much more advanced education than previous generations (most notably in foreign languages and IT). Many foreign enterprises invest in Vietnam, and the start-up movement is booming. The era that Gen Z is stepping into is a flat world where everything can be integrated. Therefore, career opportunities for them are extremely large.
With many doors welcoming them, being a “time billionaire,” having no financial pressure and no family pressure, job hopping frequently at a high frequency is easy to understand. In a young person’s mind, they want freedom. They think they have plenty of time and opportunities to experiment until they truly find a suitable place.
Heavily influenced by social media
Do you think social media affects “work culture”? Absolutely. Social media is where thousands of groups sprout up and millions of people express their opinions. Being exposed to too many sources of information from social media also subjects Gen Z to the influence of ideologies, thoughts, and ultimately, actions. Trends glorified by social media such as: Live for yourself instead of the thoughts or desires of others, do what you love, youth only lasts a few years… if not thoroughly and carefully understood, can easily lead to impulsive and erroneous behavior.
Gen Z is also an emotionally sensitive generation. Precisely because they live in a society where personal opinions are increasingly valued and people are gradually becoming comfortable expressing personal feelings on social media, Gen Z is very sensitive and even vulnerable. Rebukes from superiors, unpleasant looks from colleagues (which might just be due to their oversensitivity to the issue), or excessive work pressure affecting travel plans… If Gen Z cannot find people who motivate and inspire them, it is very difficult for them to develop themselves or commit long-term.
But that is not the reality of an entire generation
Quite a few employers complain about the “uncivilized” resignation attitude of a significant number of Gen Z individuals. “Say hello when leaving, but don’t send a word upon departure” (Go with a greeting, leave without a notice). You might think your action is not too serious, but in reality, it causes certain losses for the business. Moreover, such behavior leaves you with practically no “door” to return to work in that same environment or with that same manager.
But looking at one side, we should also look at the other. Perhaps from the perspective of employers, if they continuously encounter such cases, we should also take a moment to look back at other reasons. Unsuitable work culture? Poor onboarding and connection with new employees? Or are young people having issues with their direct managers – who are often middle managers?
And more importantly, we should not generalize an entire generation, because after all, Gen Z continues to prove themselves to be a truly talented, dynamic, creative, and agile generation. They possess the mindset of an integrated generation both domestically and internationally. They have their own thoughts and are not afraid to find ways to execute those thoughts or ideas. They are increasingly becoming resilient, versatile, daring to think and do, and the age of success is consequently becoming younger. Therefore, Gen Z does not deserve to be lumped together with an uncivilized resignation culture. In any generation, there will be individuals of all kinds. The important thing is still that we recognize the reality, understand part of the causes from both sides, and fix them.
For instance, with the Gen Z generation, before succeeding, the biggest lesson is to become a good person (humanity). Before learning literature/writing, the first lesson is to learn etiquette. Civilized behavior, discipline, and responsibility mean respecting the employer, the company, colleagues, and respecting your own reputation. For employers, it is perhaps necessary to reconsider and review increasing connectivity to avoid creating a gap, especially a generational gap with new employees like Gen Z.
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