What Millennials & Gen Z Want in the Workplace
Younger generations are quickly becoming a major force in the workplace. Millennials became the largest generation in the workforce in 2016, according to Pew Research, and Gen Z workers are quickly catching up. Forbes reports that by 2025, Gen Z is expected to represent 27% of the workforce in OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries.
Millennials and Gen Z workers have a lot to offer in the workplace. Both generations are highly experienced working with technology, they can quickly adapt to changes, and they’re capable of bringing innovative new perspectives to the table.
Even as generations that are used to remote work opportunities being readily available, younger generations still care about the spaces they work in. While Millennials and Gen Z are two separate generations and have experienced the world in different ways, there is common ground in what they look for in their work environments.
Flexible Work
Flexibility in the workplace is something that’s highly valued among younger generations, both in terms of where they work and in the ability to maintain a healthy life/work balance. Millennials and Gen Z workers are very adaptable to both in-person and remote work, so hybrid work arrangements are an excellent way to provide the flexibility they crave. This means that workplaces need to be designed to support those flexible work arrangements, featuring things like spaces for video conferencing, lots of support for technology throughout the space, and furniture that is easy to reconfigure based on the needs of a team.
Collaborative Spaces
In hybrid work arrangements, one of the key reasons why people opt to work in the office is so that they can collaborate with others. While working from home has its benefits, it also leaves many people craving face-to-face interaction. This is particularly true for Gen Z workers who were just starting out in their careers when the coronavirus pandemic hit and have now spent a good part of their careers working remotely. From casual lounges and cafes to traditional conference rooms, collaborative spaces of all kinds are in high demand.
A Variety of Spaces
Millennials and Gen Z crave balance. As much as they appreciate direct collaboration with their colleagues, they also appreciate being able to concentrate on work by themselves when needed. Creating spaces that offer a variety of settings to work in, like traditional desks, privacy pods for solo work, and semi-enclosed areas, gives people the ability to choose the environment that best suits the needs of the task they’re working on.
Need help creating a space that can help your company bridge generational gaps? Premier Construction & Design can help. Our team has designed and built a wide range of spaces for companies in many different industries. Check out our portfolio and case studies to see examples of some of our work. When you’re ready to get started, contact us so that our team can learn more about your project.
Featured Image: Mikael Blomkvist / Pexels
