Today’s workforce typically comprises of people across 3 generations:
- Gen X (people born between 1965 – 1980)
- Millennials / Gen Y (people born between 1981-1996) and
- Gen Z (people born between 1997-2012)
A psychologically safe environment fosters the overall well-being and success of an employee at his / her workplace; accordingly, psychological safety is critical for creating a work environment where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to do their best work.
Psychological safety is important for all generations in the workforce; however it can have varying interpretations amongst different generations. Each generation has had unique experiences that have shaped and continues to shape their attitudes, expectations and understanding of what constitutes a safe and supportive workplace for them.
Gen X started their employment when manufacturing industries were a dominant force. There was significant pressure on productivity, efficiency with limited autonomy and decision making power. Over time, they saw the decline of traditional manufacturing industries and the rise of the service economy coupled with the advent of technology including personal computers and the internet. Though many Gen Xers benefited from the paradigm shift, the journey was rampant with feelings of instability and job insecurities as they had to embrace new career streams. Based on their experiences, Gen Xers are more likely to feel psychologically safe in an environment that values their autonomy, experience, expertise and independence as it aligns with their needs.
Gen Y / millennials entered / were in the early stages of their career when the 2007-2008 recession hit. They had to navigate a very competitive job market and unstable economy to secure / maintain employment. This caused significant economic anxieties for them in terms of delayed career starts, burden of handling student loans and managing financial commitments to name a few. Gen Y started their careers with technology being an integral part of their work environment. Social media and other forms of digital communication opened up channels that provided / allowed them to seek a constant stream of validation both at the workplace and socially. This heightened their need for being respected and appreciated in general to feel psychologically safe. Respect and appreciation also mitigated their fear of being judged, increasing their engagement, creativity, problem-solving and trust, all of which are critical for an organization’s success.
Gen Z entered the workforce at a time characterized by increased technological advances and globalization increasing their quantum of awareness and access to information. The increase in information has shaped their thought processes significantly; this generation is open to pursue unconventional career paths to do work that is meaningful for them. They want their work to be a source of personal fulfillment, hence place a lot of emphasis on their work being purposeful and being aligned to their personal values. Meaningful work makes Gen Z feel psychologically safe as it provides them a sense of accomplishment and recognition as they are able to contribute to their fullest potential.
By understanding the varying perceptions of psychological safety among different generations, organizations can take steps towards creating a culture of psychological safety that supports the expectations of different groups of employees. Organizations can then customize their interventions to ensure that all employees feel valued, motivated and empowered to contribute their best work.
