Supporting and managing multiple generations is critical in the workplace today. It’s equally as important to consider the shift towards millennials being the majority cohort in the workforce in coming years.
By 2030, millennials will represent close to 75% of the workforce. Millennials, as a generation, can be defined by several characteristics:
- They’re the largest, most diverse generation
- They value creativity and innovation and are shaped by technology
- They’ve received more education than the average young adult from previous generations and will enter the workforce as knowledge workers
As these ambitious and creative technophiles enter the workforce, they are looking for vastly different things in their workplaces than generations before them. Combined with more mobile technology and changing work styles, millennials are seeking flexible and personalized workspaces.
It has become essential to create spaces that attract these knowledge workers. Because they are so tech-savvy and have a lower demand for privacy, they can work anywhere, anytime – in applications like touchdown benching systems, cafés and lounge spaces that allow for socialization and informal collaboration.
And while seniority, titles, and hierarchy no longer solely dictate workplace design, organizations must not isolate baby boomer or Gen X cohorts, especially when it comes to retaining talent. When given a variety of individual and collaborative spaces in which to work, everyone can be more productive, which is important to remember when managing multiple generations in the workplace.
RELATED: WHAT IS A RESILIENT WORKPLACE?
As the office evolves and the workforce becomes increasingly more mobile, the paradigm continues to shift. The workplace must be a place where people of every generation want to go – to engage, collaborate and learn – and the spaces we design must support these shifting ideals.
