Over the next 10 years, the office environment is going to see big changes through the heavy influence of the Generation Y workforce. B According to CNN, those born between 1979 and 1997 (Generation Y) will make up approximately 50% of the employee base, and the baby boomer population (born between 1946 and 1964) will be only 25% of the workforce by the end of the decade. B Currently, those percentages are reversed.
But how does this massive shift impact the office space? B There are a number of generational differences that separate these two groups on how they feel an office environment should operate, and a few of these are outlined below:
- Generation Y prefers an engaging work environment that is more of an activity versus just a place that you spend your time from 9 to 5. B Studies show that baby boomers value quality meetings rooms and a more structured environment.
- Baby boomers feel that the most productive way to get things done is through formal face-to-face meetings, while Generation Y members rely on technology interaction for quick and casual meetings.
- Generation Y like a comfortable work environment with a residential feel as they often blend their work lives with their personal lives. B Baby boomers tend to separate work from their personal lives and therefore value function and efficiency in a workspace.
Tags: changing workplace, office space, technology in the workplace, The Changing Workplace, workplace trends
