IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Jun 2021

Generation Z Workplace Communication Habits and Expectations

Dawn Janssen Arizona State University ; Stephen Carradini

Abstract

Background: People born between 1995 and 2012, referred to as Generation Z, grew up alongside significant technological advancements in communication. This cohort's oldest members are now entering the workforce. Literature review: Although the merits of generational research have been questioned, Generation Z's personal communication preferences and habits demonstrate unprecedented technological experiences and expectations in the workplace. Research questions: 1. What are Generation Z's current habits in using smart technology, social media, and voice communication for personal communication? 2. How does the current workplace communication environment appear through the lens of Generation Z? 3. Do the personal communication habits of Generation Z conflict with current workplaces? Methodology: The study reports on a 207-participant exploratory survey and 6 interviews with Generation Z members in January-March 2020. The survey included multiple choice and open-ended questions regarding respondents' personal and workplace communication habits and expectations. The interviews allowed further investigation of survey responses. Results: Working Generation Z respondents hold unexpected attitudes and behaviors, including awareness of the negatives of technology use, differences in personal preferences and professional behaviors, self-regulation of technology use, and concern for boundaries between personal and work life. Conclusion: Generation Z's ability to adapt to current workplace norms may slow changes in workplace communication. Their awareness of disruptive communication habits could make positive changes to workplace communication in the future. Employers should resist negative generational stereotypes and develop new communication policies to reflect current and future-looking technology use. This study was completed prior to COVID-19 and does not include pandemic-related workplace technology changes.

Journal
IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Published
2021-06-01
DOI
10.1109/tpc.2021.3069288
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
professional writing social media book reviews
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (5)

  1. Smith et al. (2026)
    How Organizations Can Integrate AI-Generated Positive Communication Into Recrui…
    Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  2. Kamil et al. (2025)
    Professional Communication for Employability: A Qualitative Study of Graduate a…
    Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  3. Caffrey (2024)
    Speaking to the Head and the Heart: Prioritizing Empathetic Communication in th…
    Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  4. Sharma (2023)
    Developing Self-Efficacy in Public Speaking Using Video and Digital Oratory on …
    Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  5. Zani et al. (2022)
    Motivating Factors to Self-Disclosure on Social Media: A Systematic Mapping
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication

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