The expectations of the generation Z from work life and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on their expectations

There are different generations at work life. The last generation to join the workforce is Generation Z. In the literature, although there are studies regarding the expectations of Generation Z, studies about their expectations from work life are limited. The purpose of the present study is to explore the expectations of Generation Z from work life and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on their expectations. Since expectations affect the work motivation and efficiency of individuals, it is considered that having knowledge of the expectations of the generation that has just started work life, and the effects of COVID-19, deeply shaking our lives, on their expectations will contribute to the better management of work life. Compared to the studies mainly conducted on students in the literature, the fact that our study was conducted through the employees and explored the effect of the pandemic reveals its difference. The study was conducted with phenomenology, one of the qualitative analysis methods, by digitally interviewing 10 members of Generation Z in the banking sector, working mainly in İstanbul. According to the findings, participants expect material and moral elements such as communication in the workplace, career advancement, and income to be more egalitarian and justice-based, given that they expect to be respected in return for showing it; want career advancement and performance evaluation to be evaluated in multidimensional ways; and for management and manager styles to be less hierarchical; and want an increase in pay. Although the pandemic has no effect on the expectations of the majority of participants, on one hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the preference of location as it limits job opportunities, and on the other hand, it has started to create an expectation for location-free working with the increase in digitalization. Given the expectations of Generation Z participants in the study of work life, for increasing work motivation and efficiency, it will be beneficial providing a flexible work method in terms of location independence and working hours; having a non-hierarchical management style based on mutual respect in communication; making a work environment more social; and maintain a work-life balance.