• March 10, 2025

The Future of Work: Navigating a Multi-Generational Workplace

The Future of Work: Navigating a Multi-Generational Workplace

The Future of Work: Navigating a Multi-Generational Workplace 1024 683 micebook.

At micebook’s International Women’s Day event, Generation Z consultant, educational specialist, and speaker Chloe Combi, delivered a thought-provoking keynote on the evolving workplace. Her session explored the challenges and opportunities presented by multiple generations working side by side, as well as the future of employment in an increasingly dynamic world.

Here are a few key takeaways from her session…

The Generational Shift in Work Attitudes

One of the most significant shifts in today’s workplace is how Gen Z approaches work-life balance. While Millennials and Gen X were raised in a “work hard, say yes” culture, Gen Z set firm boundaries around their personal time.

Social media plays a role in shaping these expectations. “We don’t really have strong unions anymore, but social media has provided a kind of form of unionised consensus. Young workers are going on TikTok and Instagram, discussing work, and collectively deciding what’s acceptable and what’s not.”

For many young employees, the main concern is not just about career growth but financial sustainability. With the rising cost of living, many Gen Z professionals are prioritising jobs that offer fair pay, flexibility, and mental well-being. “There is a sense of, ‘I’m not going to kill myself for a job where I’m still living in my childhood bedroom.’”

Bridging the Work Readiness Gap

A significant challenge highlighted by Combi is the shift in how young people enter the workforce. Unlike previous generations who had part-time jobs in retail, hospitality, or other sectors before their first full-time role, today’s young employees often enter the corporate world with little to no prior work experience. This has created a knowledge gap, making it more important than ever for employers to provide clear guidance, structured onboarding, and mentorship to help new hires navigate workplace expectations.

Clarity & Transparency in Workplace Communication

One of the more thought-provoking points Combi raised was the issue of workplace language. Many companies promote a “we’re a family” culture, but she warned this can lead to confusion, especially when conflicts arise. Unlike real families, workplaces have hierarchies, rules, and disciplinary actions, and pretending otherwise can blur professional boundaries in a way that may be damaging. “Have your mum and dad ever fired you? Have they ever sanctioned you? Unless the answer is yes, don’t use the language of family in the workplace.”

Instead, she suggests workplaces to focus on being supportive communities rather than using familial terms that might create unrealistic expectations.

Rethinking Office Culture and Retention

The hybrid work era has raised big questions about office culture. Combi emphasised that simply requiring employees to be in the office for set days is not enough—there needs to be a purpose. If employees are coming in only to sit at a desk and do what they could have done remotely, it creates resentment. Instead, businesses should focus on making in-office days engaging, with opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and skill-sharing.

Retention remains a major challenge across industries. Many young employees leave within the first year, often due to mismatched expectations. Combi suggested that companies need to be transparent about salaries, job responsibilities, and work-from-home policies upfront to avoid early dropouts. Additionally, businesses should be asking employees, What will make you stay? rather than assuming retention strategies will work across all generations.

Generational Compatibility & Mentorship

Rather than pairing young employees with slightly older mentors, Combi suggests cross-generational mentorships. Pairing Gen Z workers with Gen X mentors (rather than Millennials) can foster more empathetic, productive relationships, as Gen X mentors may have children of their own and bring a broader perspective to the table.

Similarly, Millennials can benefit from mentorship by Baby Boomers, creating a culture of mutual respect and knowledge-sharing.

Women Supporting Women in the Workplace

Combi highlighted the power of female mentorship and collaboration. Women who had strong female mentors were more likely to thrive in their careers. Rather than viewing each other as competitors, she urged women across generations to support, uplift, and mentor one another, reinforcing that intergenerational collaboration leads to stronger, more successful workplaces. Rather than competing or dismissing each other’s experiences, different generations should focus on mutual learning, respect, and shared growth.

“We are in a moment where we’re going to have to work together and collaborate more than we have in the last five years. Some of the things we’ve taken for granted are being taken away, and it’s important to lift each other up and empower each other. When women work together, magic and power, brilliance, and profitability happen.”

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