According to a recent survey conducted by Jabra, a Danish brand specializing in audio equipment, virtual meetings have become the norm since the pandemic. However, it has been found that Gen Z and Millennial workers are struggling to feel included in these meetings. The survey, which involved 1,845 knowledge workers in the US, UK, France, Germany, Poland, and Japan in April 2023, aimed to explore the impact of hybrid work on meetings.
The survey revealed that 48% of employees reported hybrid working in 2023, marking a 3% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, 42% of employees stated they were in the office full-time, representing a 5% increase from the previous year.
Interestingly, the younger and more tech-savvy generations, Gen Z and Millennials, were two to three times more likely to feel left out in online meetings compared to Gen X and Boomers. Approximately 17% of Gen Z and 13% of Millennials frequently experienced feelings of exclusion in meetings, while only 7% of Gen X and 5% of Boomers reported the same. Moreover, over a third of the younger generations sometimes felt left out, while 20% of Gen X and 23% of Boomers acknowledged similar sentiments. However, 15% of Gen Z and 22% of Millennials claimed they never felt left out, in contrast to 32% of Gen X and 38% of Boomers who felt they had never experienced such exclusion.
Insider previously reported that younger workers may feel a lack of inclusion due to being new to the workplace and not having established networks or rapport with their colleagues. This lack of familiarity with the social norms and workplace culture can make it difficult for younger and newer employees to speak up or express their opinions in online meetings.
Major companies such as PWC, KPMG, and Deloitte have acknowledged that some new hires who graduated during the pandemic may be lacking in soft skills, particularly in communication, due to virtual studying and remote work. Consequently, some of these companies are providing etiquette training to enhance skills such as email communication and in-person collaboration.
Recently, the White House made an announcement regarding the introduction of a new labeling system for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. These devices, such as speakers, baby monitors, and refrigerators, are commonly used in our homes. The purpose of the labeling system is to help consumers assess the level of security provided by these devices against cyberattacks. While participation in the labeling system will be voluntary for manufacturers, a survey conducted by BlackBerry suggests that implementing it may attract the attention of Gen Z and millennial consumers.
According to the survey conducted by BlackBerry last year, it was found that:
- 86% of millennials and 80% of Gen Z respondents would feel safer using IoT products if they were accompanied by a cybersecurity star rating system.
- Approximately 44% of Gen Z and 42% of millennials currently keep their IoT devices offline due to concerns about cybersecurity.
- Baby boomers appear to have more trust in their IoT devices, with only 14% of them keeping their devices offline.
- However, when it comes to children using IoT products, baby boomers are more cautious, with 69% stating that they would not allow unsupervised use.
- Additionally, the survey revealed that 75% of Gen Z buyers, 69% of millennial buyers, and 55% of baby boomers would be willing to pay more for devices labeled as secure through a cybersecurity star labeling system.
Christine Gadsby, the VP of product security at BlackBerry, emphasized the importance of understanding the cybersecurity level of these smart devices. She stated that without this knowledge, we may unknowingly compromise our sense of security and invade the privacy of our homes. Therefore, it is not surprising that four in five consumers surveyed by BlackBerry believe that the introduction of a cybersecurity labeling system would enhance their sense of safety and awareness when utilizing Internet-connected devices. Additionally, two-thirds of the respondents expressed a willingness to pay more for products that receive higher security rankings.
The White House has indicated that the new labeling system is expected to be implemented in 2024. However, before finalizing the program, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to gather public feedback. BlackBerry's survey was conducted in October 2022 and involved 1,088 respondents.