Ricoh conducted a study on different generational perspectives on professional life and teamwork, entitled Workforce United.
The study was based on a survey of approximately 5000 workers of various ages and sectors from 24 countries in the EMEA region, including 150 Portuguese. Workforce United aimed to identify the differences and similarities between the various generations operating in the current labor market, concluding that generational differences are practically a myth. All participants agreed that sustainability should be a focus for companies, as well as the adoption of the best technology as a tool for success in their work.
"Workforce United" reflects a time when workplaces exhibit the greatest age disparity in history, as it is the first time that four generations coexist: the Baby Boom Generation (1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1980), Generation Y (1981-1995), and Generation Z (from 1996 to the present).
Currently, according to the study, the workforce is increasingly united, sharing the same ideologies regarding the future of companies. Contrary to any assumption, the arrival of Generation Z in the professional market has resulted in a unifying factor for other workers. Approximately 65% of all generations believe in the values and ideals of their company, and nearly 63% believe that business models will undergo drastic changes in the next five to ten years.
More responsible and sustainable companies
On the other hand, all generations demonstrated the same motivation to contribute more to their work, corresponding to 72% of respondents. Similarly, everyone agreed that problem-oriented leadership (44%) with a visionary mindset (39%) is crucial for success. But above all, 64% stated that companies should be more responsible and that sustainability will be the focus of business and product strategies.
Ramón Martín, CEO of Ricoh Portugal and Spain, states: “ Professionals of all ages are uniting in a collective demand to incorporate more sustainable and responsible work practices. This implies operating in harmony with the surrounding environment, demonstrating respect for all employees and all social contexts that make up the company. At Ricoh, we are working towards this goal. Therefore, we are firmly committed to 10* of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including the commitment to reduce our CO2 emissions to zero by 2050. As business leaders, we have a duty to listen to our employees and to hear them loud and clear when seeking a broader perspective .”
Culture of collaboration and technological innovation
Although ways of working are constantly changing, we can say that today the four generations have more in common than before. For example, the importance of a collaborative culture is transversal to all age groups, although for Generation Z it does not have the same relevance as for the others. However, all value practices such as flexible hours and remote work. Similarly, the vast majority of respondents stated that they preferred to work within a small team, with only 14% indicating that they preferred to work independently.
Respondents also believe that the role of a responsible entity should include improving the digital skills of its employees and innovating in their respective sectors. According to them, new technologies are vital to driving change, with approximately 51% arguing that technology helps them perform at their best professionally. In this sense, 65% of those surveyed believe that the best companies to work for are those that invest in digital technologies to improve the skills of their employees.
Delving deeper into this topic, it is important to highlight the predisposition of all respondents across the four generations to embrace new technologies. Nearly 73% of all participants stated that they are confident in their ability to adapt to new technologies, with 70% indicating that they expect to improve these skills throughout their careers.
Equally relevant was the fact that 53% of respondents cited a lack of innovation as their biggest demotivator, followed by slow change (49%). Consequently, training that helps them make the most of technology and, as a result, achieve higher performance, was identified as being extremely important for their professional careers.
When asked about future technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Robotics, employees responded positively, with 44% stating that these technologies will primarily help them in performing their duties. For 39%, Artificial Intelligence will be the key to achieving this goal.
Ramón Martín adds: “ Technology is essential for the growth of employees, and therefore we must invest in acquiring the best tools, adapted to the new era of communication and collaboration in which we live. This study has shown that this is a concern that cuts across all generations currently present in the professional world, so we should consider it more than necessary, and adapt the information to the needs of each of these generations .”
