According to a November survey conducted by tech company HP, Gen Zers share a common secret: they are ten times more likely than their older colleagues to feel “tech shame” when experiencing computer problems such as WiFi connectivity, and they are not as comfortable with new technology as older generations would typically assume.
They are most likely to be plagued at work by technological issues. According to HP, while 1 in 5 young office workers feel judged for having tech issues, only 1 in 25 of their older coworkers feel the same way. They’re also ten times more likely than their elders to feel embarrassed about these technological blunders.
This “tech shame,” as Debbie Irish, head of HP’s U.K. and Ireland human resources, tells WorkLife, stems from a variety of factors. For one thing, she says, it could be related to not being able to afford better technological equipment or Wi-Fi like senior coworkers, because Gen Z is still largely on entry-level salaries. They may also be less confident in their overall position at work.
Although they are frequently asked to help, Gen Zers say they are tired of being the tech experts for their older coworkers. Being the team’s go-to for those questions can also lead to embarrassment when their own problems arise, according to WorkLife.
One in every five 18-to-29-year-olds polled in the report, which surveyed 10,000 office workers in 10 markets including the United States and the United Kingdom, said they felt judged when dealing with technical issues, compared to one in every 25 for those aged 40 and up. Furthermore, 25% of the former age group would actively avoid attending a meeting if they believed their tech tools would cause disruption, whereas only 6% of the latter cohort.
The sources for this piece include an article in BusinessInsider.
