‘Saenaegi, Bap-eun Meokgo Danini?’... Gwanak-gu Takes Initiative to Create Healthy Workplace Culture Breaking Down Generational Barriers

Encouragement and Communication Event for New Public Officials, Attempts at Reverse Mentoring to Break Generational Barriers

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is promoting the creation of a healthy workplace culture by improving unreasonable practices in the public service community.

Recently, due to demands for improvement of unreasonable practices stemming from the authoritative organizational culture in the public service, as well as the increase in turnover among young public officials and social shock caused by extreme choices, negative views toward the public service community are increasing.

In response to these changes, the district is making efforts to create a rational and progressive workplace culture that allows employees to work satisfactorily by balancing work and family, considering the younger organizational culture.

First, to understand the culture and values of new employees who will lead the organization in the future, they are trying encouragement and communication sessions called “Newbie, Are You Eating Well?” and reverse mentoring where seniors learn about new generation culture from juniors called “Listening to the MZ Generation.”

“Newbie, Are You Eating Well?” replaces the existing practice of distributing probation rice cakes upon completion of probation with providing lunch hosted by department heads, serving as a place for intergenerational empathy and communication by encouraging past efforts and listening to difficulties.

Also, centered around department heads, new employees are paired with seniors to meet once or twice a month for reverse mentoring called “Listening to the MZ Generation,” where seniors learn about new generation culture from juniors.

The MZ Generation is a collective term for the Millennial generation born in the early 1980s to early 2000s and Generation Z born in the mid-1990s to early 2000s. Through digital culture experiences, learning new generation slang, and visiting MZ Generation hot places together with new employees, it is expected to enhance mutual understanding and create a harmonious workplace culture.

In addition, the district plans to improve existing wrong practices such as refraining from running lunch errands for lower-ranking employees, prohibiting collecting personal funds to provide meals on days dedicated to department heads, allowing anyone to freely express their opinions without criticism or disadvantage for somewhat odd questions, dissent, or mistakes, improving top-down work methods, and refraining from creating unnecessary supplementary materials, thereby creating a rational and voluntary culture.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “The growth and stability of an organization are based on building trust, and organizational innovation can be pursued only when trust and respect among employees are the foundation,” adding, “We will not stop at improving unreasonable practices in the public service community that have recently become problematic, but will continuously strive to create a healthy and enjoyable workplace culture where employees can trust each other through mutual communication and consideration, and where individual personality, character, and capabilities are respected.”