Introduction

For the first time in history, there are five generations now working alongside each other.

And conversations around generational differences in the workplace have never been more prevalent.

Whilst Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) have often been branded as optimistic and career-driven, yet at the same time lazy and entitled, their Gen Z successors (those born between 1996 and 2012) have been labelled as more realistic, tech-savvy and unafraid to confront challenging issues in the workplace.

According to the World Economic Forum, Gen Z will make up more than a quarter of the workforce by 2025; they’re our future leaders, and it’s time for employers to take note of the needs, preferences and challenges faced by this growing cohort.

We surveyed 1,750 employees and 250 business leaders across all generations to understand what’s driving the leaders of tomorrow – and what businesses need to do to ensure they’re nurturing the talent needed to drive them forwards.