Gen Z workers struggle with office tech
Most people think Gen Z people are great at technology because they usually work with smartphones and various gadgets. Contrary to popular belief, recent studies say people aged 18 to 26 struggle to operate workplace tools. Numerous people from that generation shared difficulties with printers and video conference apps like Google Meet.
Generation Z usually receives a negative rep for being obsessed with gadgets and apps. Regardless, this age group will become the future global workforce. We must find ways to help these people progress in their careers so that they can improve their countries.
This article will discuss why studies say Gen Z employees face “tech shame” in the workplace. Then, I will cover ways to help these people overcome these challenges.
Why is Gen Z struggling in the office?
Tech company Hewlett-Packard is one of those that examined this trend among young workers. HP calls their problem “tech shame,” defining how overwhelming young people feel using office tools.
According to its study, “1 in 5 young office workers feel judged when experiencing tech issues.” In contrast, only 1 to 25 of their mature colleagues have this issue.
Gen Z employees are “10x more likely to feel shame in these scenarios than their older peers. Also, Dell Technologies conducted a similar study.
According to Fast Company, this tech firm surveyed over 15,000 people aged 18 to 26 across 15 countries. Learn about the key findings below:
- Roughly 50% of Gen Z workers will accept short-term economic pain if lawmakers invest in long-term solutions. Yet, only a third believe current government investments will promote a flourishing digital economy.
- Also, 44% of this demographic stated schools only taught rudimentary computer skills.
- Around 40% of Generation Z believe they need new digital skills for future careers. However, 37% say education did not prepare them with the technical skills required for their desired careers.
- One-third of respondents demand flexible and remote work. Meanwhile, another third want in-office roles.
What do Gen Z workers say about tech shaming?
News outlets like The Guardian interviewed Gen Z workers to understand this trend further. For example, it asked the opinion of 25-year-old Garrett Bemiller.
The NY publicist said he grew up with screens but struggled with the humble office printer. Bemiller said, “Things like scanners and copy machines are complicated.”
“It kept coming out as a blank page, and it took me a couple of times to realize that I had to place the paper upside-down in the machine for it to work,” he added.
He accidentally broke a work laptop because he always accepted a pop-up from the cloud storage service Dropbox without reading. Later, the computer slowed to a crawl. His company replaced the mobile computer and asked IT staff to check the issue.
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Bemiller has inadvertently allowed Dropbox to back up all files on the computer’s disk. Meanwhile, the app gave the laptop permission to back up to Dropbox. “It was constantly backing up everything onto itself,” he said.
“Murdering that poor laptop is still so funny to me,” the publicist added. Some folks slightly older than Gen Z also struggle with workplace tools.
Max Simon, a 29-year-old content creator for a Toronto business, expressed his frustration to The Guardian. “When I see a printer, I’m like, ‘Oh my God!’ It seems like I’m uncovering an ancient artifact,” he added.
How can we help Gen Z workers adapt?
‘Scanners are complicated’: why Gen Z faces workplace ‘tech shame’ https://t.co/zSFTErlHaZ
— The Guardian (@guardian) February 28, 2023
Sarah Dexter, an associate professor of education at the University of Virginia, explained the ongoing trend. “There is a myth that kids were born into an information age, and this all comes intuitively to them.”
“But that is not realistic. How would they know how to scan something if they’ve never been taught how to do it?” Dexter added. The Guardian explained Gen Z workers typically work with mobile apps.
For example, they know how to edit images and videos from their phones. This age group knows how to build websites via Wix and Squarespace.
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These mobile programs are so easy to use that children can start using TikTok with inadequate reading skills. On the other hand, office machines like scanners and printers are less intuitive. Often, they are so complicated that they ship with instruction manuals.
In contrast, you can start using a brand-new smartphone in seconds. Dell Technologies understands and recognizes the problem and other institutions as the solution. Consequently, it recommended these measures to Forbes:
- Universities must collaborate with tech organizations to offer online, self-paced tech upskilling platforms. These will host courses to supplement classroom learning with essential digital skills.
- Coding boot camps and apprenticeships can boost tech literacy among Gen Z workers. More importantly, the latter offers hands-on experience and the chance to work for the world’s leading tech companies.
- Young workers may also get cybersecurity, data science, and cloud computing certifications, the most in-demand tech skills in 2023.
Conclusion
Generation Z will become the global working majority. Consequently, we must help these young, aspiring career people succeed by arming them with the right digital skills.
These will enable them to boost their social and economic status, allowing them to supercharge our economies. They can pay for more products and services to boost business growth.
Giving them a better future will pave a better life worldwide. You can upgrade your career with these digital skills, and Inquirer Tech can guide you.
