Employers Gen Z refuse to show where companies need to step up

“At the end of the day, wherever I choose to work, I’ll hopefully be working there for at least the next few years,” says Kim, adding that he wants to take the time now to find a company that can prove it aware of climate change. “That’s more important to me than a competitive salary. If I can have that compared to a six-figure starting salary, I’ll take that any day of the week,” adds Kim.

“If a company wants to drive more sustainable efforts and reduce their carbon footprint, that’s a huge plus for me. Just because it shows that this company has very high morals,” says Kim. “I was honestly surprised when I researched which companies were and which weren’t.”

It is not enough for organizations to simply say that they prioritize sustainability; The youngest generation of workers like Kim is urging companies to lead the way. According to a new report from Handshake, which surveyed 1,800 users, about 60% of Gen Z say they avoid applying to employers that even have a perceived negative impact on the environment. Previous surveys found that more than half of younger workers refused to consider jobs in organizations that lacked diversity, and 62% said they would be more likely to apply if a company made a commitment to equal pay .

“We’re definitely seeing Gen Z becoming more vocal and taking their values ​​into account when making decisions in ways that previous generations may not have made as visible at this stage of the game,” said Christine Cruzvergara, vice president of higher education at Handshake Education and academic success.

That’s not to say it’s easy, or that Gen Z has perfected an approach that puts sustainability first when it comes to their employment. They must weigh opportunities that may mean giving up more lucrative opportunities at a point in their lives when they are not rolling in dough. And for those who can afford those qualities among potential employers, it can be a challenge to decipher which organizations are committed to green practices as a matter of principle and which are merely window dressing.

Gen Z leads with a value-based approach

Mya Jacobs, 24, made the decision to transition from an intern to a full-time position at a New Orleans-based PR firm upon graduation in May 2020. My work experience to date was second to none,” says Jacobs wealth. Rather than issues like climate change requiring special attention to garner attention, Jacobs says these values ​​are embedded in everything the Black-led organization does and continues to do.

Unfortunately, “climate change” is now a buzzword, says Jacobs. “An informed candidate needs to be able to break this down into manageable and measurable qualities to get a good idea of ​​what this company is really about,” says Jacobs, adding that she’s been focused on finding out whether a potential employer has “good bones”. in terms of who founded the organization, who works there and what the core identity behind the work was.

A large proportion of Generation Z, who are in the early stages of their professional careers, have witnessed dismal climate reports that predict drastic changes over the next 30 years – in other words, in their lifetimes – if countries and companies do not act. For many, that has become part of their identity: who they are and what they want to stand for, says Cruzvergara. And that means many aren’t content to wait for real change.

“For previous generations, it was more of a mentality to take your time. You step in, step up, and then you can start changing the structure. Gen Zers are a bit different in that they look into the future and look for opportunities and say, ‘If you don’t meet my expectations or values, I’ll find you somewhere else or create something myself,'” says Cruzvergara.

Activism, in general, is the rich man’s game

Like all generations, Gen Z is a diverse group, spanning demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds. All in all: There are members of Generation Z who cannot afford to focus so much on issues such as sustainability and the carbon footprint of companies. “Demographics and socioeconomic status play a role here,” says Cruzvergara. There’s a reason activism is still, in many ways, a rich man’s game.

“You will always have a subset of students and the job-seeking population [overall]who, quite frankly, don’t have the privilege or latitude to necessarily choose only the companies they would most like to work for. They need to choose a company that can pay them a salary that will pay off their bills or loans. That’s just the reality,” says Cruzvergara.

However, those in Gen Z who fall into this bucket typically want to be able to focus on company culture and values ​​at some point. “They were often the ones who said, Look, I hope that one day maybe I can work in a place that I really believe in, but right now it’s a luxury I just can’t afford,” Cruzvergara adds added. “And that’s okay.”

Some companies are struggling to connect

Organizations know that it is important to present a climate-friendly approach to recruit top talent. Handshake’s survey found that 65% of respondents are more likely to apply for a job with a company committed to sustainable practices.

In the meantime, words and phrases such as “sustainability”, “climate pact” and “climate responsibility of companies” have increasingly crept back into job advertisements. There was a dip in climate-related keywords in the early days of the pandemic, but as of September 2021, they’ve returned in a big way, according to Handshake. Mentions of these keywords have doubled since summer 2020.

However, it’s challenging to reconcile the dots between the advertising language on a job ad and the companies that are taking actionable steps. According to Aon’s recently released 2022 Executive Risk Survey, only about a third (34%) of C-suite executives say their organizations spend significant time on climate change.

Since 2020, each brand has worked hard to convey value messages, so now “it all falls into place,” Jacobs says, adding that if it’s a person championing a brand that can explain how, she’s more aware it has affected her life.

“It’s really hard to judge if a company has sustainable practices by looking from the outside in,” says Jacobs. “I tend to look straight for the money – where is the funding and how many dollars is a company investing in sustainability? Money comes first.”

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