Young people want free food and early finishes before considering taking a job, a study shows
Most young people will not consider taking a job unless it offers free food and flexible working, a new study has revealed.
‘Generation Z’ workers, aged 18 to 24, were also keen on work laptops, subsidised travel and online job interviews, according to the Ivory Research poll.
The study, which included 2,000 young people, showed 87% would not take a job that required them to be ‘100 per cent office-based’ and instead wanted something more flexible.
The age group, which is made up of 12 million people, would be happy getting paid between £30,000 and £40,000, the Mail Online reported.
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In total, 72% expected bosses to provide complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with unlimited snacks and drinks.
The poll showed 60% of respondents required free work laptops and phones, and subsidised work travel.
The same amount also need jobs not to require previous experience and an online interview for the position.
Half of the people who replied to the survey insisted on an early Friday finish, team nights out and a dog-friendly office.
An Ivory Research spokesman said: "There’s quite a list of priorities set out before a typical Gen Z-er will consider accepting a new role.
"From WFH – working from home – and duvet days, to subsidised travel costs and free lunches, the expectations of the traditional workplace are very different in 2021."
Co-founder of Ivory Research Maria Ovdii added: "It’s a candidate-driven market currently, and potential employees know they have power."
In August, chancellor Rishi Sunak said working in an office was “really beneficial” for young people and they could miss out on gaining key skills if they stayed home.
He said: “I have spoken previously about young people in particular benefiting from being in offices.
“It was really beneficial to me when I was starting out in my career.”
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Sunak added: "I doubt I would have had those strong relationships if I was doing my summer internship or my first bit of my career over Teams and Zoom.
"That's why I think for young people in particular, being able to physically be in an office is valuable."
Research by job site Reed has found 35% of UK workers are willing to take a pay cut if they can have permanent remote working.
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