Three strategies for when Gen Alpha enters the workplace

The eldest of Gen Alpha (born between 2010 and present-day) could be entering the workforce in two or three years. 

As employees, they’re expected to be entrepreneurial, adaptable risk-takers and beyond fluent with technology. 

They may also be ambitious, opinionated and authority-defying, known in some parenting circles as the ‘honey badger generation’.

Growing up Gen Alpha

Given they grew up during seismic world events like COVID-19, we shouldn’t be surprised if Gen Alpha values stable, secure work environments more than Gen Zs and Millennials.

But that won’t stop them from continuing the same ‘job hopping’ behaviours of the generations before.

Some say the lack of status quo surrounding a Gen Alpha upbringing will cause them to move in and out of employment and self-employment even more fluidly, searching for true fulfilment and flexibility.

Gen Alpha likes and dislikes

One thing is for sure: Gen Alpha will expect seamless experiences between their work and personal touchpoints. 

This generation probably won’t be interested in a work phone! If they are, they’ll want to be able to log on and use it from any location, raising important questions about security and data protection.  

Their digital fluency will lead to them seeking roles with emerging tech and exciting innovations baked in. This could make sectors like manufacturing and other industries appealing to new talent.

Ways to lose out on Gen Alpha talent might include unimpressive diversity and inclusion efforts, or working patterns that are too rigid.

This generation are critical thinkers too. 

They’re expected to make career decisions based on their evaluation of an employer’s ESG performance, assessing between the lines of corporate and marketing messaging.

A post-generational workforce?

Today, one-third of leaders think Gen Alpha’s entry into the workplace will cause clashes with employees from other generations. 

Could adopting a perennial mindset to team management be the solution? 

Coined by tech entrepreneur Gina Pell, a perennial mindset seeks to find connections between people of different ages, rather than focusing on the differences. 

In the world of work, this translates as a ‘post-generational workforce’.

This could appeal to Gen Alpha employees as they place less value in traditional hierarchies and power structures than previous generations. 

Key strategies for managing Gen Alpha employees

Perennial, post-generational or not, these three key strategies should help welcome Gen Alpha employees into the workplace and help bond teams together:

• Open communication across seniorities - Gen Alpha will appreciate the transparency and mutual respect that open communication brings
• Mentoring and reverse mentoring - This creates opportunities for workers to share experiences and learn from each other
• Humility and openness to learning - Welcoming a new generation of employees requires an open mind and willingness to learn - just wait until your first lesson on Gen Alpha’s use of emojis!

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