What: McKinsey raises the important topic of Gen Z engagement at work and how it can be improved.

Why it is important: Department Stores are not usually seen as attractive as other sectors to the younger generation. As a consequence, and since they spend much energy and time at recruiting Gen Z workers, knowing how to retain them over time is key.

“Quiet quitting” is a new trend on TikTok and is used by workers for whom their job does not mean anything else than just a pay, and therefore are not looking to overachieve their goal but simply do the work and leave. “Acting your wage” is another phrase used by Gen Z workers showing their disengagement.

McKinsey considers that Gen Z are specially prone to this new phenomenon due to several factors:

-    Their mental exhaustion due to remote working is real, and high (they have often started to work remotely and have never met their colleagues),

-    The downside of being online is that it eases connecting with others, sometimes too much, leading to a social burnout,

-    They do not see, like Millenials, work in the same way and are looking for a job that supports their dream rather than their dream job.

To address this, McKinsey recommends to review the way Gen Z workers are rewarded when overachieving their goals (and not just providing them with hybrid working perks), especially when it comes to their relation with top management (i.e. more pat on the back?).

Are your Gen Z employees “quiet quitting”?