Leighann Emo, a hiring strategist at Wizehire, shares three onboarding tips for Gen Z workers to set them up for success.
“These kids are glued to their phones.”
That was the No. 1 hiring-related gripe we heard from gym owners at the latest Club Solutions Leadership Retreat. “They get bored easily, they don’t put much energy into their job, and they never stay for long.”
This sheds light on two things:
- The misconceptions older generations tend to have about Gen Z.
The staffing challenges gym owners face.
We hear you. Changes are bound to be felt when a new generation enters the workforce. But, to run a long-term business, consider engaging and retaining employees from this generation.
As owners adapt to a new generation of workers, onboarding and training become an increasingly important piece of operating a top gym.
A great onboarding process sets people up for success. Plus, onboarding impacts the bottom line. Businesses with a structured onboarding program report:
- Lower employee turnover.
- More work productivity.
- Higher team morale.
Here are three onboarding tips for evolving an outdated process so it speaks to Gen Z workers.
1. Share growth opportunities.
Gen Z employees are ambitious and look for opportunities to grow and advance. Employers can meet this need by outlining potential career paths at their gym. In onboarding, illuminate the path to promotion with realistic timelines, milestones and incentives.
This won’t only inspire new hires to strive for excellence but also encourage them to invest in their long-term development on the team.
2. Connect their role to the big picture.
Gen Zers are generally motivated by work that gives them a sense of purpose. Speak to this expectation by explaining how their job connects to the gym’s mission and directly affects the community. This lets new hires see how they make an impact on something bigger.
3. Cultivate a sense of belonging.
Gen Zers want to feel a sense of community at work. Here are a few ways to make new hires feel included from day one:
- Offer free trial memberships so new hires experience the gym’s value to members.
- Host a small team-building event during onboarding week to welcome new hires.
- Instill an open-door policy for communication between management and staff.
- Initiatives like these help new employees feel they’re part of a team that cares about them.
Consider adding these tips to your onboarding program to engage and retain Gen Zers. New hires want to walk away from their first week knowing who they work with, how people get promoted, and why their contributions matter.
So, go ahead. Bridge the generational gap by speaking directly to Gen Z values from day one.
Disclaimer: Just a heads up, these are general observations about Gen Z drawn from studies and research. Everyone’s unique, so while this article paints a broad picture, it might not fit every individual on your team.
