Generation Z will make up 35 per cent of the workforce by 2020 - is your Rewards and Recognition Program tailored to them? Power2Motivate can help.
You'd be forgiven for thinking businesses are only just getting used to millennials in the workplace. Well now it's time to turn your attention to Generation Z. Born between the mid-1990s to late noughties, this generation is expected to make up over 35 per cent of the workforce by 2020, Manpower Group reports.
As a result, it's essential employers create workplaces that cater to what Generation Z wants, which should include any Recognition Program you have in place. But what does Generation Z want from a Rewards Program?
1) It needs to be technologically advanced
On average, Generation Z looks at five different screens per day.
Older employees will probably look at millennials and marvel at their technological abilities. But this is nothing in comparison to Generation Z. They've grown up with computers, while the internet as an integral part of their everyday lives - on average, they look at five different screens per day, according to the International Business Times.
This means any Rewards Program you have in place needs to be similarly technologically advanced. Employees should be able to view their personal metrics and points balance - as well as choose what rewards they want - from any device. A pen and paper rewards system just won't cut it with such a technologically advanced generation.
2) As well as personalised
Because they've grown up in the digital age, Generation Z have also come to expect a high degree of personalisation. Think Netflix and Spotify, for example: Generation Z are among these platforms' most frequent users, and therefore are used to the algorithms that give them highly personalised recommendations for music and TV.
Rewards Programs must be similarly personalised. This means giving users a high level of choice in what they receive. Power2Motivate knows one prize doesn't suit all, which is why we've created a global rewards gallery with access to hundreds of suppliers globally. Employees can choose from a huge range of prizes, from electronics and household appliances to event tickets and even travel.
3) It should use social media
Gen Zers spend an average of two hours a day on social media, Global Web Index reports.
Gen Zers spend an average of two hours a day on social media, Global Web Index reports. To reach them, you need to be using social media too. Ensure you're using your company's social media page to advertise your Rewards Program. Consider writing posts that highlight big rewards wins, such as when someone saves up enough points to travel or go to an event. This will not only help you show current employees that you understand social media, but it will also help to advertise your rewards program to potential job candidates.
4) And include gamification
Our attention span has been in decline for a long time. For Generation Z it stands at just eight second, three seconds lower than that of millennials. In order to get ROI from your Rewards Program, you must ensure your Gen Z employees' interest doesn't wane.
One way to stop their attention from dropping is by introducing gamification. This is the process of introducing game-like elements to a particular process or task. Employers are beginning to use it in all aspects of business, but for rewards it lends itself particularly well. Consider introducing a digital (remember they're tech-savvy!) leaderboard that shows how many points different employees have earned and what for. This will help to introduce an element of healthy competition, keeping Gen Zers' interest despite their shorter attention spans.
Engage Gen Z with a Power2Motivate rewards program!
Here at Power2Motivate, we know how to make an Employee Recognition Program that works for all ages, and that includes Generation Z. For more information on any of our rewards program, reach out to the team today or request a demo.