Layoffs, promotions, endless job searching: The Return podcast, season 2, episode 8
The Return is a podcast about returning to the office. In season 3 we explore the reason for the burden on middle managers, why it hasn’t lessened in 50 years, and how this layer of the workforce can finally get the support it needs. More from the series →
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Since we first started reporting for season two of The Return in January, a lot has changed. Our guests have continued to face uncertain workforce conditions that include, for some, layoffs or difficulty finding a job, while others have talked about how they have experienced new jobs or being promoted.
Throughout the year, we’ve seen artificial intelligence continue to boom while people worry how it’ll impact their jobs, return to office mandates plaguing the country forcing people to change their schedules and ongoing challenges around employee experience. And Gen Zers are experiencing all of that for the first time, without any sort of existing playbook. But Gen Zers aren’t shy to change, which we’ve covered throughout this season.
On this episode, we circle back to talk to a few guests who we spoke with earlier this season to see where they’re at now. Is Julie still balancing multiple jobs at once? Did Aldrin find a job that aligns with his values? Is Genesse happy with the working conditions at HarperCollins post-strike? And how else has Danielle relied on her friend-tors?
We also speak with Marcie Merriman, EY Americas cultural insights and customer strategy leader who helped conduct EY’s 2023 report on Gen Z to learn her key takeaways on how Gen Z is reshaping the workforce.
Listeners also call in and tell us their point of view on how Gen Z is impacting the future of work.
Gen Zers have definitely navigated wobbly territory and were given another lesson in resilience since the pandemic. It might have felt difficult and disappointing at times, but there is a lot of positive change happening in the workplace that we uncovered in season two of The Return.
Across eight episodes, season two of The Return lifts the lid on what motivates and inspires the youngest generation of workers, and how they’re not as work-shy as they’re often depicted.
Season two of The Return is hosted by Cloey Callahan, a Gen Zer and senior reporter at Digiday Media’s WorkLife, and produced by Digiday Media’s audio producer Sara Patterson. Subscribe to the WorkLife podcast now on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you liked this podcast, please leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you’re listening. Stay tuned on WorkLife.news for continued coverage on how workplaces and workforces are changing to meet new expectations.