Generation Alpha has revealed bold intentions to rewrite the rules of work when they enter the workforce, insisting they won’t partake in long daily commutes to work or send emails.

This young generation of digital natives have grown up with advanced technology, with events like the COVID-19 pandemic shaping their life experience and subsequently, their outlook on life.

Researchers at work productivity company International Workplace Group (IWG) asked Gen Alpha (aged between 11 and 17) how they expect the workplace to have changed by 2040.

It found that almost nine in 10 (86 per cent) expect their working lives to have transformed from those of their parents, with office life unrecognisable from what we know today.

One of the starkest predicated changes is around the daily commute.

Less than a third of Gen Alpha expects to spend more than 30 minutes commuting to work each day, with most expecting to have the flexibility to work closer to where they live.

The youngsters also responded by saying they expect their jobs to be dramatically different to those of their parents, with hybrid work to be entrenched as standard working practice by the time they get into the workforce.

Those surveyed insist that they will be sending their boss digital voice notes, working alongside with AI and robots.

The future for these young Australians is already taking shape.

Hybrid workers commute 15.7 per cent less than full-time office workers, while 38 per cent of Australian employees already use generative AI tools in their roles.

Hiring Gen Alpha

Employers hoping to land top talent from Gen Alpha in the future need to show their commitment to cutting-edge tools and continuous upskilling, says Damien Sheehan, IWG country head Australia.

He advises tech companies to start planning now for a workplace that prioritises autonomy, efficiency and wellbeing.

“Companies and recruiters that embrace the expectations of working flexibly and tech-forward thinking will have the competitive edge for attracting and retaining talent,” Sheehan said.

“On wellbeing, much like their predecessors, Gen Alpha values reducing wasted time and improving health.

“It’s clear that having the ability to work locally will be a key factor for future generations in the workforce, aligning with their expectations for flexibility, innovation and wellbeing,” Sheehan said.

While it’s still too early for many Gen Alpha’s to enter the technology workforce, when the time comes, this generation will expect a digital-first, highly personalised hiring experience, said Tom Ward, director of Robert Half.

Success with hiring Gen Alpha will come from blending technology with a human touch, Ward said.

“Hiring managers should move away from the traditional email-heavy communication and embrace formats like instant messaging and video-based interactions for both desktop and mobile interactions.

“This generation will likely also value purpose-driven roles and cutting-edge technology, so emphasise innovation and impact in job descriptions,” Ward said.

“Tools like AI-driven sourcing, virtual onboarding and gamified assessments can make the process engaging while streamlining repetitive tasks.”

Tech changes

The research also explored tech predictions for the future among the younger generation, which unsurprisingly focused heavily on artificial intelligence and robots.

Most of those surveyed (88 per cent) expect to be using smart assistants and robots on a regular basis in the workplace.

Clearly Gen Alpha isn’t reinventing the wheel – research by Deloitte shows that 38 per cent of Australian employees are already using generative AI tools in their work, a figure expected to rise sharply in the coming years, paving the way for widespread AI integration in the future.

Gen Alpha also reckons email will be a thing of the past, replaced by new platforms and technologies to enable more efficient collaboration.

There’s also a raft of other technological breakthroughs expected to be the norm by the time Gen Alpha joins the workforce, including VR headsets for 3D virtual meetings, gaming areas, sleeping pods, personalised temperature and light settings, and augmented reality meeting rooms.

Three quarters of respondents are adamant they will waste less time commuting, enabling them to spend more time with their own families if they were to become parents in the future.

Just 17 per cent of Gen Alpha expect to be working from a main office all of the time, splitting their time between home and local workspaces, which they say means less travel stress and more time with friends and family, improved health and wellbeing and more productive workers.

But whether their mostly Gen X bosses – who grew up before the internet became popular – allow them to work from home so frequently is another matter entirely.