Skip to main content
Contact Sales Support Login Help Careers
United States (English)
Americas
  • United States (English)
  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • Mexico (Español)
  • Brasil (Português)
Europe, Middle East & Africa
  • United Kingdom (English)
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland (Deutsch)
  • Nederland (Nederlands)
  • Other EMEA Locations
Asia/Pacific
  • India (English)
  • Australia (English)
  • Other ASEAN Locations
UKG logo UKG logo
Search Get started
Search
Get started
    • Solutions
      UKG Solutions
      Human Capital Management
      Workforce Management
      Global Payroll
      Workforce Management and Payroll
      See all
      Solutions by size
      Small Business
      Midsize Business
      Enterprise
      Industry Solutions
      Retail
      Hospitality and Food Service
      Manufacturing
      Healthcare
      Public Sector
      Logistics and Distribution
      Financial Services
      Field and Contract Services
      See all
      A brighter workplace is yours to create
      Experience UKG Bryte AI
      Reference Image
      Woman sitting at desk in front of a laptop smiling

      Discover AI powered by decades of people, work, and workplace culture data that’s designed to help every organization become a great place to work.

    • Customers
      Our Customers

      More than 80,000 organizations across all sizes, industries, and geographies trust UKG HR, payroll, and workforce management, and culture cloud solutions to drive great workplace experiences.

      UKG customer logos
      Customer Stories
      Belle Tire

      UKG Pro streamlines and automates administrative and HR tasks, so that field teams and managers can spend more time with customers, and coach, train, and listen to their people.

      Eventide Senior Living Communities

      Eventide Senior Living Communities uses UKG to drive employee engagement and streamline workforce management and HCM, including cutting PBJ reporting time by 99%.

      Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants

      Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, a nationally recognized restaurant group, is building a culture of belonging and engagement for its frontline workforce with the AI-powered UKG Pro suite.

      See all customer stories
      Customer Experience

      We think you’re pretty special when you’re a UKG Customer. That’s why we build products designed to inspire your people — and your organization — to grow and thrive.

      Partner for Life
      Implementation
      Support Experience
      Community and Collaboration
      Working Smarter Café
      Get support, collaborate, and learn more about your UKG solution!
      Visit UKG Community
    • Resources
      Research & Insights
      • By Business Need
        • Payroll
        • Human Resources
        • Time & Attendance
        • Workforce Management
      • By Type
        • Analyst Report
        • Webinar Replay
        • Product Info
      See all research & insights
      Events
      Tradeshows
      Conferences
      Webinars
      See all events
      Blog
      The People Purpose Blog

      Your source for the latest workplace trends and ideas from UKG experts and leaders. Stay informed and put people first in all you do.

      Labor Market Insights
      Workforce Activity Report

      Labor market insights and trends to help executive leaders understand the rapidly changing economy.

      Workplace Resources
      Great Place To Work
      Small Business Resource Center
      UKG Developer Hub
      UKG Recognized as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Cloud HCM Suites for 1,000+ Employee Enterprises
      Download now
      Reference Image
      An excited woman wearing a white blazer points upwards with both hands.

      Gain in-depth insights into the human capital management (HCM) market to help identify the solution that aligns perfectly with your organization’s needs.

    • About Us
      About UKG

      Learn more about UKG and how our HR solutions inspire workforces and businesses around the world to drive people-focused results.

      About Us
      Why Choose UKG
      UKG Leadership
      Newsroom
      Awards & Recognition
      UKG Ambassadors
      Culture
      Belonging, Equity, and Impact
      Our ESG Program
      Partners
      UKG Marketplace
      Analyst Reports
      Careers

      Look to your future. If you're interested in working for a company that truly invests in their people to create a culture of belonging and innovation, we want you on our team.

      Careers at UKG
      Early Career & Internships
      Benefits
      Life at UKG
      Featured Locations
      Hiring FAQs
      Experience awesome at work.
      Search jobs at UKG
    Contact Sales Support Login Help Careers
    United States (English)
    Americas
    • United States (English)
    • Canada (English)
    • Canada (Français)
    • Mexico (Español)
    • Brasil (Português)
    Europe, Middle East & Africa
    • United Kingdom (English)
    • France (Français)
    • Deutschland (Deutsch)
    • Nederland (Nederlands)
    • Other EMEA Locations
    Asia/Pacific
    • India (English)
    • Australia (English)
    • Other ASEAN Locations
    Employee Experience

    What Motivates Gen Z in the Workplace

    Motivating Gen Z in the Workplace
    • Share
    July 18, 2023

    Written By

    Carol Ballou
    Carol R. Ballou
    Sr. Manager for Healthcare Marketing

    Carol is a results-oriented marketing professional with 10+ years experience in the rapidly changing healthcare IT industry. Carol focuses on creating content and experiences that inform and drive customer engagement.

    Featured Resource
    Gen Z in Healthcare
    Healthcare Playbook for the Gen Z Workforce

    What does it take for Gen Z to be fully engaged and productive in the workplace? For this generation, it isn’t just about wages; there are multiple incentives that healthcare providers can offer to appeal to Gen Z employees. Download this white paper to learn how you can focus policies and practices on the five motivations of Generation Z, in tandem with programs that meet the motivations of multigenerational employees.

    Download now

    Topics

    Multigenerational Workforce Employee Engagement Gen Z Future of Work HR Technology Burnout
    Subscribe via RSS

    The stats are staggering: 61 million Gen Z professionals are entering the workforce and by 2030, Gen Zers will compose 30% of the workforce. For these professionals, working is about more than wages: 70% prefer to do something meaningful rather than make a lot of money. There are multiple incentives that organizations can offer to appeal to Gen Z employees to improve employee engagement. 

    Here are five ways organizations can motivate Gen Z employees in the workplace. 

    Download Now: Healthcare Playbook for the Gen Z Workforce [Free White Paper] 

    1. Work-life balance  
     

    We’ve entered a time in society where much value is placed on the time spent outside work. Although Gen Zers desire to make a difference in the workplace, these employees strive to follow their passions outside work as well. 

    To deliver this valued work-life balance, organizations must offer adequate paid time off and make it easy for employees to use that time, and managers must lead by example by taking time off themselves. Gen Zers want to feel valued as people. Convey this message by encouraging employees to take time off to reduce burnout, providing self-service tools that allow shift swapping when needed, and giving them access to their schedules as far in advance as possible. Offering benefits that support work-life balance will help foster an employee-centric culture where people feel valued. 

    Gen Zers want to feel valued as people at work.

    2. Technology 
     

    On average, a Gen Zer will use five screens a day. This generation doesn’t remember or know life without a cellphone or high-speed internet. Technology has enabled them to receive information instantly through search engines and digital information, and thus they expect immediate answers to their queries. It’s no wonder Gen Z students’ attention spans are an astonishing 8 seconds, 4 seconds less than those of millennials.

    Gen Zers expect technology to continue to be a part of their everyday life both inside and outside the workplace. Almost all (98%) own a smartphone, and nearly 23% expect text messaging to be an essential part of workplace communication. Gen Zers use technology to perform most daily tasks in their personal lives. To maximize engagement with this generation, it’s crucial that workplaces provide modern technological tools for their workers. 

    3. Empowerment
     

    With Gen Z, organizations are working with highly skilled individuals who are looking for a sense of purpose, managerial recognition, and continuous feedback on performance. 

    In addition to managerial feedback, Gen Zers also value the recognition of their peers. Organizations can implement peer-to-peer or team member programs geared toward building connections and trust between employees. These initiatives empower Gen Z workers to drive positive change in their performance and for the organization. It is also important to grant employees the opportunity to contribute their input. Creating space for the employee voice will allow people to feel valued and appreciated. 

    4. Career growth 
     

    Gen Z wants to see clear career pathways and opportunities for growth. A recent study of younger nurses found that 43% claim the opportunity to grow professionally through career advancement was a crucial factor impacting the work environment.To address this motivation, work environments can provide training opportunities, as 36% of younger nurses chose career advancement training as the most helpful type of employer education.

    Performance reviews are especially critical for this generation, as Gen Zers thrive on receiving feedback. Many are joining the workforce directly from an environment where they received it constantly—school. Transitioning from an educational setting to a position where opportunities to make measured improvements may only be provided annually could be discouraging. Keeping the lines of communication between managers and employees open can help. 

    A recent study found that 60% of Gen Zers want multiple check-ins from their manager during the week; of those, 40% want the interaction with their boss to be daily or several times each day. Implementing technologies that automate feedback provides an opportunity to grant this feedback with ease. Providing mobile communication tools to the workforce is also vital, as they keep them connected to their managers, each other, and the organization. 

    5. Visibility and insight 
     

    It’s difficult to empower employees without giving them visibility and insight into their work. While employees of every age want to know how the work they do makes an impact, that’s especially true for younger generations. They work long hours and want to see the results of that work via performance indicators. Visibility is critical to providing those insights. Visibility into real-time data can also help with the performance management of employees, not to mention talent management and retention. 

    Fueling the Future
     

    Gen Zers will play a large role in shaping the transformation of the workplace. Their comfort level with technology, emphasis on work-life balance, and focus on personal and social values are factors that will have a significant impact on the future of work. It will be important for organizations to understand and respond to the unique perspectives and needs of this new generation. This is a critical step to remain competitive.

    Download Now: Healthcare Playbook for the Gen Z Workforce [Free White Paper] 

    • The People Purpose Blog
    • What Motivates Gen Z in the Workplace

    Related Stories

    Two employees of different ages work together on a computer
    The People Purpose Blog
    The Multigenerational Workplace: Strategies for Collaboration and Success

    With Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z all sharing the same offices (or virtual platforms), businesses face an opportunity to create an environment where everyone feels a sense of purpose and value — and can collaborate effectively.

    A businesswoman smiling while receiving a certificate from one of her colleagues at the office.
    The People Purpose Blog
    Steps for Improving Employee Engagement through Everyday Recognition

    In today's competitive job market, it's essential for organizations to go beyond offering competitive salaries and benefits to retain top talent. Explore the importance of consistent and meaningful employee recognition in boosting engagement, morale, and overall workplace satisfaction.

    Nurse using digital tablet in hospital
    The People Purpose Blog
    Reimagining Frontline Engagement

    Discover the profound impact of workplace dignity through the inspiring story of a hospital operations worker who transformed her environment.

    UKG logo

    Footer menu

    • Suites
      • HCM Software for Enterprises
      • HCM Software for Midsize and Small Businesses
      • Workforce Management Software
    • Solutions by need
      • Time & Attendance
      • Human Resources
      • Payroll
      • AI in the Workplace
      • Scheduling
      • Talent Management
      • Employee Experience
      • Multi-Country Payroll
    • Customers
      • Implementation
      • Support Experience
      • UKG Community
      • Customer Experience
    • About Us
      • Why UKG
      • Culture
      • Our ESG Program
      • Leadership
      • Newsroom
      • Careers
      • Privacy and Security
      • Legal
      • Sitemap
    • Resources
      • Events
      • Analyst Reports
      • Workforce Activity Report
      • HCM and AI
      • The People Purpose Blog
      • Small Business Center
      • Enterprise HCM Demo Center
      • HR Software Demo Center

    Sub Footer

    • Accessibility
    • Cookie Choices
    • Cookie Notice
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Notice
    • Mobile Terms
    © 2025 UKG Inc. All rights reserved.

    Kronos SaaShr, Inc., a UKG Company (NMLS ID#1698726) provides money transmission services on behalf of UKG Inc. customers and in connection with certain UKG products. For more information, visit Compliance & Licenses.