Asst. Prof. Maureen H. Gelle-Jimenez, PhD, Director of the Human Resource Department and academic staff of the College of Commerce and Business Administration, was one of the panel members in the forum entitled “Nurturing a Healthy and Fulfilling Professional Environment for Gen Z,” organized by The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham). This was held via Zoom on November 24, 2023, spearheaded by AmCham’s Healthcare and Wellness Committee and Human Capital and Resources Committee, which was participated in by Human Resource (HR) practitioners from various industries.
Asst. Prof. Gelle-Jimenez emphasized on the attributes of the latest and youngest addition to the workforce and how these may impact today’s workplace. Gen Z individuals’ pursuit for a meaningful career aligned with their personal and professional goals is an important consideration for talent acquisition, engagement, and retention. The premium that they put on holistic health will definitely call for HR to become more dynamic. She also highlighted the presence of various generational cohorts, each with peculiar characteristics, making it necessary to have a flexible and responsive work environment.
The panel discussion centered on Generation Z’s financial state and practices, work priorities and preferences, and values and mindsets, which are anchored on the research conducted by Prof. Fernando dela Cruz Paragas, PhD of the Department of Communication Research, University of the Philippines, Diliman. Other members of the panel were Mr. Raymond Tiangco, Executive Vice President of PhilCare and Ms. Maria Gaitanidou, Co-Founder and CEO of Hati Health.
