Post Millennial Generation Z value perks more than any other age group.
To mark a fresh wave of Generation Z graduates entering the workforce for the first time this summer, new research has revealed what businesses can offer to attract and retain them.
A study of 2,315 UK workers carried out by Perkbox, as part of the 2018 Great Perk Search Report revealed that Generation Z-ers, or those born between the mid 1990s and 2000, value workplace benefits more than any other age group.
More than one in three (36%) post-millennials admit that the workplace perks on offer are one of the most important deciding factors on whether to accept a new job or not. This highlights the importance of businesses having a strong benefits structure in place when recruiting new talent from this demographic.
Post-millennials, or so called, Gen Z-ers, are also the group most likely (32%) to prefer smaller perks that they can enjoy on a more frequent basis, all-year-round, over one annual event, such as a Christmas party.
Despite this, Generation Z feel less deserving of workplace benefits than co-workers born pre-1995, with fewer than half (38%) believing they should benefit from such offerings – which is less than any other age group.
The top three workplace perks most popular amongst Generation Z included simple benefits, such as receiving a day’s annual leave on your birthday (86%), followed by free coffee and hot drinks (85%), and flexi-hours (83%).
- Yet only 38% expect to receive workplace perks
- Having your birthday off work and flexi-time cited as the top benefits
- Annual events like Xmas parties are least attractive to this demographic
Chieu Cao, CMO at Perkbox, said: “The second wave of Generation Z graduates are entering the workplace for the very first time this year. Therefore it’s critical that employers offer the benefits Gen Z crave in order to attract and retain the very best talent from this demographic.
“It’s good news for employers that Gen Z value simple perks the most. Wherever possible, employers should have workforce benefits in place, especially as they cost so little, especially for desired perks such as hot drinks and flexi-hours. Yet the ROI for employers investing in these types of workplace benefits would be substantial (i.e., increased productivity and motivation).
“There is one perk that is sure to attract the best of Generation Z as they enter the job market. Bearing in mind Gen Z will have significant debt leaving university that will likely be upward of £45k – and that up to two-thirds of them will never pay it off in full – any assistance in the area of long-term financial assistance will put employers in poll positon.
“What’s more, employees do deserve to be awarded perks from time to time. When working hard for a company, it’s important that employers do give a little back and let their workforce know how valued they are.”
Free lunches (82%), private healthcare and private dental care (both 80%) came in joint fourth and fifth place respectively in the list of Generation Z’s top 10 workplace perks.
Although they favour simple perks over one big yearly event, such as a Christmas party, they are the group least likely to report they don’t enjoy Christmas parties (22%), highlighting that this annual celebration could still be a perk worth maintaining.
To review the findings in more detail download the 2018 Great Perk Search Report from www.perkbox.com.
