When Kerehoma ‘Kere’ Hetaraka first started working at the Glen Hotel in Eight Mile Plains on the south side of Brisbane, he did not expect to build a bond with someone 30 years older than him.<\/p>\n
Now 21, Mr Hetaraka has formed a friendship with his 51-year-old manager Adam Jamieson, who he describes as the “cool fun uncle” of the workplace.<\/p>\n
“He’s gotten to know me to the point where he understands what I need to do my job and to do it well,” Mr Hetaraka said.<\/p>\n
The unlikely duo are part of an emerging trend in workplace culture as members of the ageing workforce embraces the new generation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Kere and Adam have a 30-year difference in age but have formed a strong friendship. (ABC News: Chelsea Malunga)<\/p>\n
This perspective has been showcased in a recent social media trend, which features Gen Z workers singing and dancing with their older colleagues and showcasing their friendships.<\/p>\n
Thousands of videos have been posted to TikTok and Instagram with captions like “my work bestie” or “me and someone’s parent 8 hours a day”.<\/p>\n
While the videos are light-hearted fun, workers and experts say these types of relationships can have genuine impact on workplace culture, and offer learning opportunities.<\/p>\n
‘Learning about emotional intelligence’<\/p>\n
Mr Jamieson said the duo’s four years of working together have been educational not only for his young colleague, but also for himself.<\/p>\n
“The advantage of working with someone so young is getting to understand the younger generation \u2026 how they deal with their feelings,” he said<\/p>\n
“It was a bit jarring to start with to see [young people] react so strongly to little things. That’s something that [my generation] kind of neglect and deal with later.<\/p>\n
“It’s been a good journey for both of us to learn about our emotional intelligence.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Associate Professor Chad Chiu says maintaining a friendship with someone who is ‘not like you’ can have many benefits. (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n
Associate professor Chad Chiu from the University of Queensland Business School said the benefits of intergenerational friendships are backed up by research.<\/p>\n
“We have this theory called the ‘strength of weak ties’, which means that as individuals you will get the best benefits from someone who is not like you,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Age-wise, gender-wise or race-wise.”<\/p>\n
These friendships can also be beneficial for careers and businesses, Professor Chiu said.<\/p>\n
“Studies show that well established networks usually perform better, have higher levels of creativity and are more willing to work together for a long time.”The sectors showcasing age diversity<\/p>\n
While hospitality is the most popular\u00a0industry\u00a0among\u00a0young employees, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), other\u00a0fields\u00a0are leading the way\u00a0when it comes to age diversity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
ABS figures show as of November 2025, around 482,000 people aged 15 to 24 were employed across accommodation and food services, but there were only 131,000 workers in the industry over the age of 50.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hospitality is one of the industries with the highest number of young workers. (ABC News: Sam Ikin)<\/p>\n
The data\u00a0shows\u00a0the industries with the most employees from different age groups are healthcare and social\u00a0assistance, and education and training.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Healthcare and social assistance had the most age diversity with hundreds of thousands of workers in almost every age bracket. It was the most populated industry for every age group over 24.<\/p>\n