| I'm a 1995 kid — on the millennial/Gen Z cusp, and part of the newest cohort of workers. We grew up online, we're the most diverse and well-educated generation in American history, and we've been shaped by the pandemic, Erica writes. - I can't speak for my entire generation. But I've had many candid chats with peers about things we wish our older colleagues understood about the way we think and the way we work. Here's what I hear most:
1. Time to ditch grind for grind's sake. Younger workers want more from life — and that's a good thing! A balanced life ought to have time for hobbies, relationships and relaxation as well as work. - What that doesn't mean: We're lazy and don't want to work hard.
- What that does mean: We want to work for a company we care about, and for a boss we respect. And we don't see the point in clocking in super early and clocking out super late if it's only to show face. The glory in the 17-hour Wall Street workday is quickly dwindling.
2. Give us something to believe in. Not every job can be glamorous from the get-go. But every company's mission and purpose can be. - If the leadership doesn't live and breathe the mission — it shows. Hook us on your vision, and you'll get the best work out of us.
3. We're lifelong learners. We grew up amid lightning-fast technological change, and we've seen jobs transform in front of our eyes. We're innately aware of how important learning on the job is — and we're not afraid to change up how things are done. - Leaders who harness this generation's willingness to learn new things every day will tap into a hugely productive, talented and resilient workforce.
4. Inclusivity isn't just a word that sounds nice. Lip service won't cut it anymore. Millennials — and even more so Gen Z — are a more diverse workforce than any that came before them. - We don't want to work somewhere where we don't see a single person who looks like us rising beyond the rank and file. That's plain demoralizing.
5. Take a joke! The super-serious corporate culture is fading. - Case in point: Companies are ditching their strict dress codes. We fear that managers will think we don't take our work seriously just because we like to poke fun at ourselves and joke around with colleagues.
- As long as it's respectful and professional, there's nothing wrong with having a laugh with colleagues sometimes.
Go deeper with the story that sparked this series: What's "quiet quitting" — and what does it tell us about the generational divide at work? | 
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