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Dynamic working styles, continuous learning opportunities, a sense of purpose, and more, as two Gen Z employees share.
Gen Z is fast taking up a notable share of the labour market. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025, 27% of the workforce in OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries will be Gen Z. This means more than one in four workers will come from this generation.
This trend is evident at Deliveroo Hong Kong. Currently at the delivery platform, around 50% of its employees are Gen Z. In a conversation with HRO’s Tracy Chan, two Gen Z employees – Yanyi Leung, Rider Engagement Manager, and Tony Leung, Senior Project Executive – tell us the key to connecting them lies in understanding their different expectations and work styles.
“Other generations might prioritise hierarchy and structured processes, while Gen Z values flexibility and flat management structures,” Yanyi indicates.
Tony echoes: “Some generations may prefer a work style that comes with regular working hours and a lot of face-to-face interaction, while Gen Z often favours digital and dynamic working styles.”
From a management perspective, Nick Price, General Manager of Deliveroo Hong Kong, believes Gen Z employees value authenticity, diverse and challenging projects, and really want their work to be impactful and bring meaningful change to their community.
“Gen Z is enthusiastic, passionate, and extremely tech-savvy. They thrive on diverse, project-based roles and bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table.”
To leverage their strengths, Price says that the company focuses on creating an environment that supports Gen Z’s need for flexibility and recognition, with initiatives such as:
- offering flexible working hours and non-traditional work schedules to allow Gen Z employees to work at their most productive times, leading to higher job satisfaction and better performance, as well as achieving desirable business results;
- creating a safe environment that encourages employees to take ownership, move fast, collaborate across teams, and experiment with new initiatives to keep them more engaged with more interesting projects and utilise their creative problem-solving skills to the fullest;
- leveraging their strong values around diversity and inclusivity to foster a workplace culture where every voice is heard and respected to enhance team collaboration and attract a broader talent pool.
Such an approach has been appreciated by the young employees. “This has always been a positive within Deliveroo where everyone is encouraged to contribute and share their ideas regardless of level,” Yanyi says.
“I was glad that I didn’t have to face the challenge of hierarchy and structured processes as the working environment in Deliveroo is open, young, and dynamic, allowing us to break traditional barriers and drive results.”
Tony agrees: “We are always encouraged to communicate in the most effective way and to be constantly adaptable, which, I believe, is what our generation is really looking for.”
Bringing the best of Gen Z to the table
Being a generation well-known for digital savviness, innovative mindset, and pursuit of a bigger cause, Yanyi shares her first-hand experience in bringing a fresh perspective and digital fluency to the workplace.
“We're natural at using new technologies and social media, and can use this to drive innovation and reach wider audiences. As a Rider Engagement Manager, I have always been encouraged to use my skills here, including recently when I reached out to a Gen Z rider through her YouTube channel and invited her for a photo shoot,” she elaborates.
“Learning her story and seeing her realise her dream of becoming a pilot through being our rider partner, has made me realise that had I not reached out to her on YouTube, this photo shoot wouldn’t have happened, and I wouldn’t have been able to help communicate the benefits of Deliveroo riders as I know there is a good number of dream chasers like her among us!”
As such, Price emphasises that it is crucial to harness Gen Z’s digital expertise in driving change in its business, as well as in the communities.
“At Deliveroo, we are constantly innovating and finding ways to transform how consumers shop and eat in an ever-changing market,” he explains.
“This creates an exciting environment where our Gen Z employees can leverage our technology to innovate and experiment to drive business growth, both in changing how consumers connect with restaurant and grocery partners and helping them enhance their business with our insights and data.”
Beyond tech competence, Tony also shares another aspect his generation can come into play.
“Gen Z is known for valuing work-life balance, compared with other generations, while at the same time, we want to hang out with our teammates to build friendships outside work. I’m glad that I was able to do this by enjoying flexible working hours to maintain a healthy balance between my professional and personal lives,” he says.
“Being a part of the staff engagement committee planning fun activities with my teammates has enabled me to develop this further and help other employees achieve this balance whilst strengthening our bonds outside of work, which eventually results in better work collaboration, a win-win!”
Supporting Gen Z with a nurturing environment
When asked about their expectations for employers, both Yanyi and Tony concur that employers should support younger generations by providing continuous learning opportunities and a clear development vision.
This, as they point out, can be achieved through offering professional development programmes, mentorship programmes, access to online courses, and opportunities for cross-functional projects.
On the other hand, as a generation that emphasises healthy work-life balance, both Gen Zers believe mental health support from employers can help them thrive and feel more supported.
Yanyi adds: “Encouraging involvement in CSR activities also aligns with our values and enhances our sense of purpose within the company. I have been on the CSR committee for the past two years and am enjoying it and would encourage colleagues to be part of it.”
Price concludes: “In addition to helping our employees drive change in our business, we are also supporting them to drive change in our communities. Our focus this year has been community integration for all ages and races, which was an area that resonated really strongly with our teams.”
Photo / Provided (L-R: Yanyi Leung, Rider Engagement Manager; Nick Price, General Manager; and Tony Leung, Senior Project Executive)
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