A psychologist explains what Gen Z should be striving for at work (hint: not happiness)
Briefly

The article discusses the distinction between employee engagement and happiness, noting that organizations should focus on engagement as it leads to better performance and loyalty. While happiness is viewed as a fleeting emotional state, engagement reflects a stable attitude over time. With a significant study indicating that Gen Z employees exhibit the highest engagement levels among age groups, it suggests that this cohort is eager to challenge norms and contribute innovative ideas within the workplace, emphasizing the need for organizations to adapt their strategies in managing them effectively.
Although engagement and happiness are related, they are meaningfully different and engagement might actually be the better target for organizations, especially with Gen Z.
When organizations measure engagement, they aim to measure the general state of employees, not fleeting feelings, which can change like the weather.
Our study of over 35,000 global employees showed that 18- to 24-year-olds are the most engaged age group, revealing their motivation to introduce new ideas.
Happiness is considered a short-term, fleeting state, whereas employee engagement represents a more stable attitude that influences overall workforce productivity.
Read at Fast Company
[
|
]