Three-quarters (77%) of generation Alpha teenagers want mental health support at work, according to research by healthcare provider Benenden Health.
Its Future of work report , which surveyed 500 gen Alpha teenagers aged 13-18 years old to identify their expectations and attitudes towards the world of work, also found that a fifth (19%) said mental health support at work is the most important criteria when considering a future job listing, with 74% believing it will make employees happier and want to stay at their jobs and 36% stating that, as a result, no employee will ever feel left out.
Almost half (47%) said they want to work for an organisation that supports neurodiversity and 46% want a job that aligns with their values.
Half (49%) said it is important their future workplace offers flexible working hours and the same number would prefer to be happy in their future job than be paid a lot.
Almost one-fifth (17%) said they would be more likely to take a job with free private healthcare, than a company car scheme (7%), while only 8% were bothered about organisation-wide events.
Dr Amy Pressland, a spokesperson from Benenden Health, said: “This research demonstrates a distinct step-change for the next generation of workers and what’s important to them. Employers need to urgently consider what this means for how they design workplaces, roles and employee benefits. The company car and the Christmas party may become de-prioritised as generation Alpha join the workforce.
“Front and centre for gen Alpha is health, they are the generation most concerned with mental health, supporting neurodiversity, and will prioritise employers who align with their concerns and values. With generation Alpha mere years away from entering the workforce en masse, now is the time for employers, CEOs, IT and HR directors to consider how they must adapt their workplaces to attract the most diverse and digitally-savvy generation to date.”
