Episode Title: Helping Gen-Z Manage Their Time Remotely

Over half of Gen-Z workers report that they’re less productive working from home than they are in the office. Here are some insights on how to help, coming up next.

Ep 153 show:

Welcome to The Perna Syndicate! I’m your host, Mark Perna. This week, we’re talking about a new survey by Ten Spot that highlights the challenges for Gen-Z workers now working from home.

According to the survey, fully 54% of Gen-Z workers report being less productive when working from home. And I suspect the same is true for students trying to learn from home.

Distractions are one big factor; often young people are working and learning in shared spaces with other family members. Another factor is time management and structure.

Sammy Courtright, co-founder of Ten Spot, believes that managers can help by being more hands-on. She says that managers shouldn’t assume that young workers, many in their first professional positions, already know how to structure their day for maximum productivity. This is a skill that can be learned, but first it must be modeled—and taught.

While we don’t have a lot of control over the distractions our Gen-Z students and workers are dealing with at home, educators and managers can still make a positive difference. Maybe we can check in more often. Maybe we take an active role in coaching them in using their time wisely. Sometimes it’s just the simple act of expressing interest and care that can spur young people to put forth their best effort—whether remotely or in person.

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about the mental health challenges that Generation Z has been dealing with since the onset of the pandemic, and how educators and employers can make a positive difference on that front. I’ll see you then!