A Gen Z business owner has revealed the workplace perks she considers the “bare minimum” for her team — from never refusing annual leave to covering daily café coffees and letting staff clock off early on Fridays.
Kia Buckley, the founder and CEO of Australian women’s activewear and athleisure label Kikiva, said she’s been working since the age of 15.
“How did I learn to be the boss I am today? That’s because I’ve had bosses that made me want to be nothing like them,” she said.
Kia, 25, who launched her business at 23, said difficult and even “traumatising” early work experiences shaped her approach to leadership and taught her what it means to be a good manager.
“These are the things I do as a Gen Z boss that I think are just bare minimum,” Kia said, outlining the standards she believes modern workplaces should offer employees.
Among them is a flexible start time, with her staff allowed to begin work any time between 7am and 8am.
‘Just whatever they prefer,’ Kia said.
‘Sometimes it’s early for people, whatever they want.’
Gen Z boss Kia Buckley (pictured) has spilled the ‘bare minimum’ she does for her employees – including never declining annual leave, free daily café coffees and early finishes on Fridays
The team can enjoy a free coffee at a cafe near work every day.
‘The girls can get whatever, coffee or iced chocolate, they want on the business just to say thank you because they work so hard,’ Kia said.
For hair or beauty appointments, the boss said she encourages her staff to pop out at any time as long as they schedule it in the calendar.
‘No questions asked, leave whenever you like, Bob’s your uncle,’ she said.
‘I’m not going to stop you from getting your hair done.’
Kia said her employees should be allowed to take annual leave when they want to.
The exception is the company’s ‘red zones’ – a period when the business is particularly busy due to major shopping events, such as Black Friday sales.
‘I’m massive on this one and I don’t know why businesses do it but I would never decline your leave, unless it’s in our red zone,’ she said.
‘So we have red zones which is our peak sale periods. Even if you asked for leave and sat down and explained to me why, I’d probably make it work.’
One thing she never wanted to be as a boss was someone who was nasty to her employees.
‘I’m just not a b****. I don’t make people feel scared of me,’ she said.
‘The best bosses don’t act like the boss. If you were to come into our office and you didn’t know who I was, you would not think I’m the boss.’
The 25-year-old – who started her business at 23 – said her ‘traumatising’ experience working at a young age taught her how to be a ‘good’ manager to her employees
She always ensures the office fridges are well stocked with drinks and snacks.
‘This is like ultra bare minimum,’ Kia said.
‘Our fridges are always stocked with sugar-free drinks and muesli bars.’
For new employees, she gifts them a welcome box which consists of perfumes, hand sanitisers, activewear and bags.
‘It’s a cute little box to say welcome to the team,’ she said.
She said ‘randomly on Fridays’ she would let the girls leave work early.
‘I’ll just get the vibe of how everyone’s going. If I had a productive week, everyone can leave,’ Kia said.
The business has an employee of the month award where the team can nominate their favourite colleague – and they get a chance to win $250.
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There’s also a special box full of activewear so employees can take ‘whatever they like’.
‘It’s all for free,’ she said.
For staff discounts, the team can get ‘good’ deals seven days after the collection is launched as shoppers get first priority.
With new job opportunities, she always encourages her internal team to apply because they always ‘show us loyalty opportunity to grow within the business’.
She added: ‘I also dance every day and it’s just good vibes, and if you’re not good at vibes, you don’t work at Kikiva.’
Kia said she’s become the kind of boss she wished she’d had after experiencing anxiety while working for toxic managers
Kia said she’s become the kind of boss she wished she’d had after experiencing anxiety while working for toxic managers.
‘I had a boss that I just didn’t know if she was going to like me that day, if I was going to walk into a nightmare. Like do you know those bosses where they love you or they hate you that day? It gave me so much anxiety,’ she said.
‘It was f***ed for so many years, never asked me one question about my life and didn’t actually give a f**k about me as a person.
‘She would be so angry if I was sick… it was almost like I was committing a crime.
‘I remember one time I had gastro and she didn’t speak to me for seven days. That made me cry because I needed to go to the toilet. I didn’t know that going to the toilet was not allowed.’
Kia said her boss used to yell at her in front of customers – leaving her in tears.
‘I started crying in front of customers. The customers had to console me,’ she said.
Kia added: ‘These experiences shaped me and taught me how not to manage.’
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However, Kia said before dealing with a toxic manager, she worked with an ‘amazing’ boss who taught her how to manage people respectfully.
‘I learned so much being under her. I knew I wanted to take this into my business,’ she said.
‘It was really interesting going from a good manager to a bad manager. I learned so much.’
Her video has been viewed more than 220,000 times – with many sharing horror stories about the previous bosses they worked with.
‘I wasn’t allowed to drink water at two of my old jobs unless I asked for a break. I’d ask for a break and sometimes they’d say, ‘In an hour’,’ one recalled.
‘I used to work for a horrible business. I got made redundant for no reason and it was 9-5, they had an issue with me eating a small snack, I had anxiety calling in sick at work or taking leave was made to feel bad and it’s just a joke. How are we meant to sit in front of a computer 9-5 with half an hour lunch?’ another shared.
‘I wasn’t allowed to go home from work when I had gastro,’ one revealed.
‘My boss gave me severe PTSD and I haven’t been able to work for almost two years,’ another added.
Many were amazed by Kia’s list of ‘bare minimum’ things – with some even asking whether she was hiring, convinced she was a ‘great boss’.
‘As a burnt out millennial, I wish I could work for you,’ one said.
‘Are you hiring? Asking for a friend,’ another added.
‘Sounds like a great place to work and I bet those that work for you go above and beyond because you treat them kind,’ one suggested.