Good morning!
Gen Z is an enigma to most employers. Bosses are both frustrated and pleasantly surprised by the young generation’s newfound expectations, often struggling with how to engage them. But one company is taking matters into its own hands by asking its intern class what they really want out of the workplace.
KPMG, a tax and advisory firm, conducted a survey in August of around 400 interns. It found that when it came to the things that this cohort is looking for in their professional lives, quality company culture topped the list at 64%. That was followed by a sense of belonging achieved through positive team dynamics at 37%, volunteering opportunities at 34%, and direct manager mentorship at 32%.
“Culture has really become the forefront of what Gen Z is looking for in their organization,” Derek Thomas, national partner-in-charge of university talent acquisition at KPMG, tells Fortune. “Younger generations are looking for their organization’s purpose, and, ‘What is my purpose?’ They like to be part of an organization that allows them to get out there and volunteer and make a difference.”
These Gen Z interns also deeply value the ability to work remotely. Half of them find flexible work environments the most appealing among workplace trends, with 23% ranking four-day workweeks as the most attractive. KPMG is currently hybrid, with some workers allowed to work a condensed schedule based on their life circumstances.
But the report goes a little bit deeper than just office preferences—interns shared their fears as well. About 82% of the cohort expressed concern that AI could hinder or entirely eliminate the progression of their foundational skills that are important to achieving their long-term career aspirations. And another 75% believe that the advanced technology could automate at least 20% of job tasks by the time they start a full-time role.
“It’s primarily because it’s brand new and it’s uncertain. People aren’t sure, and that puts concern and potentially fear into a lot of folks,” says Thomas. “We’re learning a lot about it as we go. Some of those concerns will start to digress, because they’ll be able to see more and more of it in action.”
But despite their robot hesitations, the cohort was overall very upbeat about their careers. Around 97% of KPMG interns were optimistic about their job or career prospects over the next 10 years, with 61% saying that they’re “very optimistic.”
Emma Burleigh
emma.burleigh@fortune.com
Around the Table
A round-up of the most important HR headlines.
A hotel in the Philippines offers five days of paid heartbreak leave to its staffers—and other global companies may have similar policies under a different name. Financial Times
After Dell mandated that some teams need to be in the office five days a week, working parents at the company were “freaking out” at having to make sudden childcare arrangements. Business Insider
With the presidential election looming, unions in U.S. swing states are canvassing and phone banking for Kamala Harris. The Guardian
Watercooler
Everything you need to know from Fortune.
Not a helicopter parent. Spotify is standing behind its “work from anywhere” strategy, reasoning it doesn't want to treat its staffers like “children” by implementing RTO mandates. —Ryan Hogg
Bow out. Boeing withdrew from negotiations with striking workers, alleging that the union has made non-negotiable demands that would weaken its competitive edge as a business. —AFP
DEI in history. Stacy Abrams says that DEI goes beyond the workplace—it's really the story of America for the past few centuries. —Jane Thier
