‘Money is not a factor’: What gen Z workers want when it comes to their careers

Gen Z has revealed their latest demands when it comes to maintaining a work-life balance – and it will likely have a big impact on how Aussie workplaces operate.

Gen Z workers are turning down management roles and chasing happiness rather than the dollar according to Australia’s leading middle management expert, Rebecca Houghton.

Ms Houghton and her team profiled 1000 Aussie middle managers last year and found just 14 per cent were motivated to step into leadership roles.

She said a major reason behind the younger generation’s disinterest in middle management was the stigma surrounding these positions.

“Middle everything is kind of associated with mediocre,” Ms Houghton said.

“People entering the workplace now have seen managers having their hardest period ever.

“Covid, work from home, hybrid teams, return to office – it has been one hit after another and I reckon younger workers are looking at that and thinking no thank you, what a revolting job.”

Australia’s leading middle management expert, Rebecca Houghton. Picture: Ciclo Argus House

The founder of BoldHR said that younger workers were prioritising their health and wellbeing over the larger pay cheques that management positions can bring.

This is a sentiment that rings true for 22-year-old speech pathologist, Indi Miller who said her goals are “less about leadership” and more about pursuing the things she likes to do.

“Money doesn’t come into it at all for me, it is not a driving factor,” Ms Miller said.

“I’d much rather the flexibility, I do a lot of sports and having a day off a fortnight is just lifesaving and it helps with being able to get your life together and get that balance.

“I would not sacrifice my day off for a bit more money.”

Despite this stance, the recent graduate acknowledged that prioritising your wellbeing over a larger salary does not come without challenges.

“It can be tricky … there’s always that constant head noise or pressure to work full-time because the cost of living is so much more expensive,” the Strathalbyn local said.

“I admire people (in management roles) but it is not something I am striving for.”

Emerson Schubert, 20, and Indi Miller, 22, say flexibility is at the top of their job wishlist. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Ms Houghton said that in order to empower the next generation of leaders, the middle manager reputation needs a revamp.

Flexible work arrangements and working from home options could be a good place to start as rigid systems are no longer appealing to gen Z.

“I think managers who think that we never brought home into work are absolutely kidding themselves and they’re forgetting what life was like before Covid too, it was never a complete distinction,” Ms Houghton said.

“Flexibility pays if you’re savvy about it.”

For 20-year-old Emerson Schubert having the ability to follow her passion for graphic design while working in two retail stores is ideal.

“I love the flexible hours and also just the variety of jobs,” Ms Schubert said.

“I just love the different vibes that I can switch up between the weeks.”

While she is busy completing her studies, Ms Schubert enjoys her freelance graphic design work and hopes to continue on this path.

“I like working for myself with my own customers and my own audience,” she said.

“Doing things for myself is something that I am interested in.”

While Gen Z’s working habits can dismissed as lazy or entitled, Ms Houghton’s advice to critics is to “loosen up”.

“(Young people) are at this beautiful golden ‘anything is possible’ moment where they’re just like to ‘hell with that I’m going to do what I want’ … it’s an age that we all go through,” Ms Houghton said.

Originally published as ‘Money is not a factor’: What gen Z workers want when it comes to their careers