Gen Z, the meritocracy is alive and well

There is a great article in Maclean’s written by a young lady defending Gen Z’s determination to have a better work-life balance that older generations. Entitled You’re Wrong About Gen Z: Young Canadians like me are fighting for saner, happier, healthier working lives. What we achieve could transform work for everyone, it is a well written article and articulates a good case.

There is only one point I would like to make.

I know the last thing Gen Z wants is an old Gen X hectoring them about what they should and shouldn’t do. But, for what it is worth, I will provide my one little piece of advice. I have talked to my three Gen Z kids about it (with, possibly, some success? Not sure.).

Employers are going to go out of their way to accommodate Gen Z. There will be mental health insurance, safe spaces, a deep and sincere commitment to diversity and inclusion. They will go to great lengths to make the workplace conform to what the new generation of workers wants in a workplace.

…..then they will promote the best and brightest and hardest working young people.

I’m not saying the yardsticks aren’t moving a little on this but in a capitalist and competitive economy and society - excellence will still have preeminence. Yes, all the young hockey players should get a participation medal but only a tiny handful will become Connor McDavid. You are not going to win a Nobel prize unless you are the best in your field. The New York Times only hires the best and brightest journalists (one assumes) and you don’t get into that rarified space by dialing things down.

I saw this when I was in government. I would go into meetings and there would be ambitious 20-30 year olds and I could tell which were going to be promoted and now, five years later, many of them have.

I work with a number of companies and have lots of clients and the focused, hard working and ambitious young people are still rising to the top. They are adding tremendous value to their organizations.

Because the truth is companies need to be excellent or their competitors will and put them out of business. And excellence in most organizations is based on the quality of the workforce. This applies in the public sector as well. We have huge challenges facing us and we need young people coming in with passion ton address those challenges.

Again, I’m not equating hard work/ambition/striving for excellence - with hours worked. And, in fact, working too much might harm your productivity and your ability to thrive in the workplace.

When I came back to NB after university in the early 1990s, it was almost impossible to find a job so when I found one - a three month gig - I was determined to make myself invaluable and turn three months in to three years and into a gig that the employer would not want to let me go and that is exactly what I did.

But I worked 60-70 hours a week and, unbelievably looking back, didn’t go on a single date in 2.5 years.

I’m not suggesting any Gen Z follow that path but I am recommending - for what it is worth - to strive for excellence - to make themselves invaluable - not matter how menial that first or second job is - because your career still matters. Being excellent in life still matters.

If you think the E in DEI - means that everyone will have the same career success as everyone else - you haven’t been paying attention.

For what it is worth.