August 8th 2024.
According to a report from Fast Company, the younger generation, also known as Gen Z, is making waves in the workplace. They are changing the way we communicate, especially when it comes to work-related matters. Gone are the days of lengthy emails, as this new generation prefers short and sweet messages, often adorned with a few emojis for good measure.
In a survey conducted by Creative Strategies in 2020, it was found that Gmail ranked fourth on Gen Z's list of preferred collaboration tools. It fell behind platforms like iMessage, Google Docs, and Zoom. This comes as no surprise, as Gen Z workers value quick and efficient modes of communication. However, they have also expressed feeling overwhelmed by the number of emails that flood their inboxes.
Another study, led by Babbel, a language-learning platform, revealed that Gen Z workers find the volume of work emails they receive to be a significant source of stress. In fact, a whopping 36% of this group admitted to having over 1,000 unread emails in their inbox. It's no wonder they've developed their unique style of responding to emails, using everything from memes to abbreviations, emojis, and slang to make the communication less rigid.
Liz Giorgi, CEO of e-commerce content creation platform Soona, shared her experience with Fast Company, stating that one of her Gen Z employees responded to an email with a simple "Hey boss, let's f'in go!" At first, she was taken aback and questioned her decision to hire this person. But upon reflection, she realized that this generation is more open about their emotions and was genuinely excited in that moment.
The Pew Research Center defines anyone born after 1997 as Gen Z. However, in 2018, the company decided to use 1996 as the cutoff year, making it the last birth year for Millennials. Giorgi believes that the influx of virtual work tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack has influenced Gen Z's communication style. The more informal way of interacting on these platforms has seeped into their email etiquette, making it less intense and more casual.
In fact, there is a current trend on TikTok, where Gen Z workers are sharing their unique ways of signing off on emails. From phrases like "Lukewarm regards" to "Bless up" and "Another day, another slay," it's clear that these young workers are not afraid to add a personal touch to their emails.
However, for HR consultant Kate Walker, while these shortened messages and slang may be amusing on social media, there is still a responsibility to effectively communicate in a professional setting. She points out that in legal matters, an email filled with emojis and abbreviations may not be the best look in a courtroom.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced people to adapt to working from home, and it has forever changed the workplace culture. Along with the rise of Gen Z workers' preference for casual email communication, many companies have relaxed their dress codes, with only 3% of employees still adhering to a business professional attire.
As the Gallup poll suggests, it may only be a matter of time before the way we communicate via email in the workplace undergoes some changes. With a fresh and innovative approach to career development, Gen Z is undoubtedly making a significant impact on the future of work.
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