(ZENIT News / Atlanta, Georgia, 18.09.2024).- In a labour world evolving at great speed, young people of Generation Z are becoming a predominant force in businesses, generating both expectations as well as challenges. However, beyond their technical abilities and effort, a key question arises that affects both their motivation as well as their performance: their spiritual health and sense of purpose.
According to a recent Report of the McKinsey Health Institute, spirituality and meaning are crucial not only for personal wellbeing, but also for productivity in work. This study, carried out in 26 countries with the participation of 41,000 people, concluded that spiritual health is not necessarily linked to traditional religious beliefs, but yes to the feeling of connection with something greater than oneself.
Generation Z and Its Spiritual Disconnection
Despite the fact that spirituality has shown itself essential to find purpose and meaning in life, the data reveals that Generation Z is the one that presents the lowest levels of spiritual health. Only 63% of young people of this generation assures they have meaning in their life, as compared with over 70% of the Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers. Moreover, only 58% find purpose in their work, a worrying figure if one takes into account the importance that this dimension plays in work commitment and motivation.
The Role of Meaning in Working Life
The disconnection between young people and purpose in work is not only an individual question: it has direct implications in work dynamics. According to the Wall Street Journal, employers are increasingly facing more difficulties in understanding and motivating workers of Generation Z. Highlighted among managers main complaints are lack of effort and motivation, both aspects closely linked with the search for meaning in life and in work.
This phenomenon cannot be ignored by businesses given that, according to the McKinsey Report, good spiritual health is associated with greater levels of effort and commitment. The capacity of employees to feel part of something greater can make a difference in their performance and work satisfaction.
The Rise of Faith-Inclusive Companies
As organizations face these challenges, many are finding solutions by integrating spiritual practices in their work policies. The 2024 Index of Diversity, Equity and Corporative Religious Inclusion (REDI), elaborated by the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, shows notable growth in the number of businesses that adopt a more inclusive focus on faith in the work place. This year, 85.8% of the Fortune 500 companies already include religion as part of their diversity strategies, a significant increase compared to previous years.
These policies not only include the formation of affinity groups based on faith, but also the creation of spaces for reflection, meditation and prayer. This focus enables employees to reconnect with their sense of purpose and strengthen the bond with their work. In companies that adopt this practice, employees find an environment that not only values their productivity, but also their integral wellbeing.
Faith As Engine of Recovery and Prevention
The impact of spirituality on wellbeing is not limited to the work ambit. Research, such as that carried out by Melissa and Brian Grim, has shown that faith is a key element in the prevention of and recovery from addictions. The results of their study highlight that spirituality not only fosters recovery but, in addition, offers a significant savings to the economy, estimated at US$316 billion annually in the United States. This underscores the importance of fostering an environment that promotes spiritual health as part of an integral strategy of wellbeing.
Towards Conscious Management
As Generation Z occupies increasingly more space in the workforce, businesses must adapt to their spiritual and emotional needs. The creation of policies that promote a sense of purpose and a space for reflection is not only a strategy to improve performance; it’s an investment in the future of a generation that seeks something more than a salary. By recognizing the importance of spirituality, employers can build more human, inclusive and productive work places.
The challenge for organizations isn’t simply to understand Generation Z, but to give them the necessary tools and environment to reconnect with their purpose, both in life as well as work. Only then will it be possible to close the motivation and effort gap, and guarantee a committed and full workforce.
