Those who work within HR understand the current challenge of retaining employees. Since COVID-19 and the Great Resignation, employee retention has wavered, with workers reprioritising what they want from their employment. When you consider the skills gap currently facing employers, the impact of this is even more profound. Job vacancies are continuing to rise across a multitude of industries and efforts to upskill existing workforces remain slower than industry demand. To help combat this, employers are increasingly turning towards the recruitment of young workers to help plug the skills gap. In fact, it’s expected that 27 per cent of the global workforce will be Gen Z by 2025. So, with this in mind, how do employers better attract this new generation?

The first, and probably most obvious way to attract young talent is with higher salaries. The cost of living crisis is affecting young professionals profoundly, with 46% of Gen Z stressed all or most of the time about their financial circumstances. It is no surprise, therefore, that Gen Z were found to be the most likely generation to take on a second job or work increased hours to keep up with inflation. Higher salaries demonstrate to your employees that you truly value the service they bring to the organisation and can significantly help reduce their consequent financial stress. Gen Z, in particular, are acutely aware of what they’re worth and highly motivated by salary increases to best improve their financial stability. However, this is easier said than done. As we all know, the cost of living crisis is affecting more than just employees, but businesses as well. Budgets are continuously being trimmed in response to this economic downswing and businesses simply can’t afford pay rises at the moment. Not only that, but a pay rise is only a temporary retention tactic, effective until the employee receives another job offer with more money. So, beyond salary, what else can companies leverage to attract and retain Gen Z talent?

Understanding Gen Z Priorities
Unlike Millennials, who have only partially grown up within the digital age, Gen Z employees are truly native to the online world we find ourselves in. As a result, Gen Z employees have access to more information than any generation previously. Within the workplace, this means they are more conscious of safeguarding against adverse effects of work, such as burnout, injury and poor mental health. Gen Zs have previously been reported as having the most mental health problems, more so than any other generation, and according to Cigna International Health’s 2023 survey of almost 12,000 workers around the world, 91 per cent of employees aged between 18-24 years old report being stressed, compared to the average of 84 per cent.

With this in mind, ensuring their place of work is safe both for their physical and mental wellbeing is a paramount consideration for those looking to better attract these employees. To truly engage with Gen Z employees, organisations must demonstrate a holistic commitment to safety. However, many businesses are unsure of where to begin.

Starting with the physical safety of employees, traditional health and safety, of course, remains essential. Implementing routine safety audits, ergonomic equipment for both the office and at home, and comprehensive equipment inductions for both desk-based and deskless employees is critical and valued by Gen Z employees.

Equally, the mental and emotional safety of employees is also highly valued and sought-after by Gen Z. The new generation knows the effect poor mental health can have on their physical health. Therefore, organisations that embrace open discussions about mental health and offer access to resources such as counselling can greatly improve the business’ appeal to Gen Z workers. This can also have an impact on employee performance, meaning both the employee and the business benefit as a result.

Lastly, it’s important that Gen Z employees also feel represented in the workplace, which can contribute towards their overall psychological safety at work. A safe and supportive workplace celebrates diversity and promotes inclusivity, and Gen Z employees value workplaces where they can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination or bias.

Whilst a complete overhaul of a business’ approach to safety can seem overwhelming, the consequent effect can be substantial in helping to resonate with Gen Z. A study by Deloitte found that 77 per cent of Gen Z employees think it’s important to work at an organisation whose values align with their own. So, how can a business better instil a culture of safety across the business and its employees?

Utilising Health and Safety Training
The best place to start is through comprehensive training. No, this doesn’t mean having to dedicate countless hours to unengaging presentations on basic safety, but interactive learning that can be delivered in a variety of methods to suit the learner and their work schedule, whether that be classroom-based, online, or live online learning. But why start at training?

Effective health and safety training doesn’t just inform employees of ideal workplace practise, it enables them with the knowledge and skills to identify and mitigate potential risks. This can mean both in the physical sense, reducing the likelihood of injuries and accidents, and in the non-physical sense, safeguarding employees from the symptoms of poor mental health. As a result, you will have a safer, healthier workforce for the business, and happier employees.

Training can also have additional benefits, including improved employee confidence and fostering a feeling of achievement, both of which contribute to employee satisfaction and overall contentment. For those looking to implement workplace training, we can recommend a handful of courses to get you started, including the IOSH Working Safely course, which is a great starter for ten on physical workplace safety and the NEBOSH Working with Wellbeing course, a fantastic introduction to wellbeing within the workplace for both employees and employers.

Will Gen Z be the Safest Generation?
We all know that Gen Zs will play a huge role in the coming decades. As they continue to account for more of the working population, employers that prioritise considerations such as safety and wellbeing training will reap the benefits. Employers that fail to recognise and adapt their business, will not only risk poor workplace safety, but also lose out in the fight for future talent.