How Malaysia's Gen Z is changing the workforce

Move over millennials.

A new group of workers have recently entered the Malaysian workforce, and whatever name you give them, Generation Z, Zoomers, or the Internet Generation, they are here and ready to make an impact.

In recent years, it feels like every time we check our social media feed, there is always an article titled "Millenials said..." or "Millennials feel...", while Zoomers are probably virtually shaking their heads at us.

Even though Generation Z and Millenials have many similar work ethics and values, there are some differences as well. Knowing what motivates these young Malaysians will help us attract and retain them.

Here are three ways Generation Z are reshaping the current workplace:

They are salary and security oriented

When it comes to money and benefits, many members of Generation Z seek the traditional security most often associated with previous generations, because they saw their parents struggle with debt when they were growing up.

Many members of Generation Z are willing to work for the financial security they desire, despite having a reputation among older generations as being unmotivated.

That said, they definitely bring an element of creativity and a “work smart” attitude as they are aware that they can easily access information by browsing the internet.

According to a 2018 study, by Raymond Madden titled Tomorrow's Professionals: Generation Z In Malaysia, Malaysia's Generation Z is more interested in starting their own business than employment in the long run.

But they think running a business is riskier than having a full-time job, so most won't try to start their businesses until they have enough work experience and money from their full-time jobs.

A healthy work-life balance is priority

Businesses are starting to adopt more flexible work arrangements because people working from home or remote locations are more likely to establish a healthy work-life balance.

In Malaysia, this can already be seen as new working hours will be implemented on 1 January, 2023. This amendment to the Employment Act will reduce the maximum number of hours from 48 to 45 each week.

According to Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim, this protects workers' rights under the International Labour Organisation Convention and gives employees more flexibility regarding where, when, and how frequently they log in and out of their jobs.

The popular TikTok trend 'I'll make the money back, but I'll never be in my 20s and [insert activity]' features videos of young people going on big adventures and is an insight into this generation reimagining how work fits into their lives rather than the other way around.

Mental health support is also important

More than any other generation, Malaysian Zoomers are working on getting rid of the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

Many businesses are providing a wide range of stress-management resources to help their employees deal with the stress brought on by joining a new workforce and post-pandemic depression.

It might be through regular check-ins with a superior, group sessions of mindfulness practises or participation in an online community of like-minded workers.

When I asked my millennial friends and colleagues what they thought about these changes, most of them seem to welcome them and agree that having a healthy work-life balance is very important to them as it is to Generation Z.

Others, however, said that too much flexibility can do more harm than good, arguing that we are promoting "lazy culture" and that this could have negative effects on the economy in the long run.

Personally, working with Zoomers over the past couple of years and witnessing the effect their thoughts and expectations have on the workforce has led me to the conclusion that they bring a much-needed fresh perspective to the workplace.

Yes, we’re older.

Yes, we think we know better, but remember when we too were young and “cool”, rocking Walkmans and Motorola phones, and dialling the internet modem to connect with friends on MSN Messenger while boomers thought we would bring about the end of society as we know it?

We didn’t.

So, to my fellow millennials, as we take over managerial positions, let's keep an open mind and remember to focus on retaining some of the most intelligent, motivated, and inventive people in the workforce.

Huda Hekmat is an educator, content writer, and Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. She is currently doing her masters in Educational Psychology. When she isn't teaching, writing, or trying to armbar her fellow gym mates, you can find her reading a thriller, watching a stand-up comedy, or on the hunt to find the best nasi lemak in KL.

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