Gen Z Workers Don’t Find Open Offices Productive
Gen Z workers are competitive, independent and drawn to private workspaces rather than the open office layouts that have recently grown in popularity, and value in-person communication via breakout rooms.
SAN ANTONIO—The oldest of Generation Z is beginning to enter the workforce and landlords should prepare for a different work style than that of the highly collaborative Millennial demographic. With Gen Z accounting for 32% of the US population, they have surpassed Millennials as the largest age demographic in the country.
Research from McKinsey & Company identified key traits that drive this generation–both in their personal lives and at work. There are several ways companies can transfer those traits to the workplace to create an office environment that appeals to Gen Z workers and supports their productivity outcomes.
Gen Z workers are competitive, independent and drawn to private workspaces rather than the open office layouts that have recently grown in popularity. These workers value in-person communication which necessitates incorporating breakout rooms. Gen Zers value access to services more than owning possessions so ride-sharing services and food delivery would be an appealing employee benefit. And finally, Gen Z workers are driven by ethics and like to see company values reflected in the workplace, such as companies that support sustainability or are LEED certified.
Leah Gallagher, Transwestern San Antonio market leader, says Transwestern is redesigning its San Antonio office to promote recruitment and retention of top talent across all generations, but with a specific focus on the future of its workforce.
“Studies show that the Gen Z workforce does not prefer a work environment designed to encourage large group collaboration like the open concepts that gained popularity among Millennial workers,” Gallagher tells GlobeSt.com. “Rather, they favor productive small group collaboration for brainstorming and, in turn, want private space to focus on projects and completing tasks. To support the diverse work preferences of our team members, we are incorporating a variety of spaces into our new office including open workstations, private offices, a large collaboration area, a small huddle room and a large conference room. The huddle room is intended for quick team meetings equipped with a standing-height table and video conferencing system to encourage collaboration within our office as well as with Transwestern offices nationwide.”
Gallagher says members of Gen Z are known for their desire for customization. To address that, both the private office furniture and open workstations will have adjustable desks to allow each person to move easily between sitting and standing throughout the workday according to their preference and comfort. “The private offices will have glass fronts to support our culture of accessibility and transparency, as well as encourage more face-to-face meetings and interactions that are preferred by Gen Z,” she tells GlobeSt.com. “Born with technology at their fingertips, Gen Z embraces digital collaboration and mobility. Transwestern’s technology platform caters to these demands with the ability to access, modify and sign documents outside the office with any smartphone or tablet. Just as we evolved to consider the workplace and technology preferences of previous generations, we believe that the new San Antonio office design equips Transwestern to provide the next generation of workers with a productive and enjoyable environment.”