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Generations Of Employees And Office Design
30.01.2025|
When we think about the future, we often focus on technological progress. However, it turns out that social and demographic changes have an even greater impact on our future than new technologies.
Social changes and the needs of younger employees are shaping the way companies operate and how contemporary workspaces are designed. When designing offices, two generational groups should be given special consideration: Generation Z and Generation Y (millennials). Currently, both of these groups make up 61% of the global workforce. Forecasts indicate that by 2034, Generation Z will be the majority in the labor market, reaching 34% of the employed population.1
Who are Gen Z and Millennials?Millennials, or Generation Y, are experienced yet still young employees born between 1981 and 1990. They are curious about the world, well-educated, and open to new experiences. They value personal development, do not fear change, and place their private lives above professional ones. Generation Z, the youngest in the labor market, includes people born between 1995 and 2009. They grew up in a world of new technologies and handle them with ease. They often change employers due to differing worldviews. Both millennials and Gen Z value environmental protection, work ethics, and social equality, and they prefer employers who share their values.
Gen Z and Gen Y - What connects them and how do they view their work environment?Both generations are at different stages of life. Generation Y, which has invested heavily in education, focuses on career development while also starting families. Flexibility at work is important to them. Regarding hybrid work, Generation Y more often defines it as flexible working hours throughout the day (42%) compared to Generation Z (36%).2 Generation Z, playing an important role in today's work culture, is technology-oriented and goal-focused. They choose to work in companies that share their values. Gen Z seeks a work environment that meets many of their needs, is based on good relationships, and embraces employee diversity.
How to create a workspace suitable for the new generation?Today, the labor market includes four different generations, which makes designing office spaces that meet the needs of all age groups, especially the younger generation, crucial. Therefore, it is worth focusing on modular furniture and those that allow easy space reorganization. Flexible office space adapts to different ways of working, including: • shared zones, such as coworking areas, • quiet zones that encourage focus and concentration, • and spaces dedicated to relaxation and informal meetings. Modern offices should be functional sets of zones that support creativity and the efficiency of the entire team. Appropriate furniture and office solutions will help create such spaces.
In shared spaces, not only ergonomic desks and chairs (such as Belt, Eleven, Momo) are important, but also acoustic solutions, such as partition walls and wall and ceiling panels (e.g., Selva, Flos, Silent_block). Shared office spaces increasingly serve as places for intense teamwork and brainstorming sessions. In such zones, high tables (Orte, Spin) and comfortable benches and seats (Flos, Epocc, Ox:co small) work well. These spaces are also the ones that most often change in the office. Therefore, it's worth considering furniture that facilitates rearranging and reorganizing: functional partitions that can double as storage (e.g., Saar), acoustic partitions that also act as dividers (such as Selva:fee, Alberi), and movable furniture. In an open office, ensuring comfort through silence is key. Acoustic booths, such as Treehouse or Quadra:booths, are ideal for video conferences or as small conference rooms. Meanwhile, sets from the Leaf_pod collection allow for creating separate spaces while ensuring good office acoustics. One of the most important aspects of a modern office is creating a relaxation zone. These areas improve employee productivity by providing the opportunity to rest. You'll find comfortable sofas (Fora, Legvan) and armchairs (Epocc_lounge, Flos, Ox:co, Vieni). The relaxation zone is also a place where silence should be ensured, so acoustic chairs and booths (Epocc_lounge, Quadra) are a good solution. As Generation Z's share in the labor market increases, office spaces are changing. Companies are increasingly adapting office spaces to the new demanding employee, for whom flexibility, inclusivity, and sustainable development are key. These elements contribute to the overall concept of employee well-being.
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