Generation Y and their expectations on the work floor
Our office is increasingly changing, largely under the impetus of Gen Y, which is making up an increasingly large part of the active population. But what does this mean exactly? And which role does technology play in this? We give you an overview of the status quo, based on research by Forbes, Randstad and the Harvard Business Review.
Working remotely
According to Ernst & Young , millennials will account for 75% of the world’s workforce by 2025. In addition to this, you also have to factor in Gen Z, the cohort that was born between the mid-Nineties and the end of the Nineties and that will be entering the labour market soonish.
An interesting fact about both generations: they grew up with technology. These digital natives grew up in the age of the smartphone and want to be connected 24/7. And as technology is omnipresent, they believe that they can work anywhere they want. Remote working is increasingly becoming the new normal as a result.
Do millennials hate working in an office? Not necessarily. This trend is mainly about the flexibility to work from another location now and then.
Attention to our health please
Both the current and future generations value their health. Everyone is aware that ours is a sedentary lifestyle without sufficient exercise, that we tend to be more overweight and that burnout is a growing problem. Have we all ended up in a downward spiral? Absolutely not. On the contrary, employers are increasingly aware that they must invest in their employees’ health. What’s more, health benefits are now actively promoted during interviews.
Just think of
- healthy lunches, which is the most valued extra according to the 2019 Walters People Salary Survey
- More greenery on the work floor, because it boosts creativity.
- Adjustable standing desks, which have the potential to increase productivity by 46% according to research
- Increased interest in a healthy work-life balance, because the emerging technology means that a lot of people need to unplug on a regular basis.
Invest more in human connections
While technology may have permeated every aspect of our lives, the majority of employees are desperate for human connections. The employee of the future finds maintaining a good relationship with his or her colleagues important in today’s relationship economy. And this does not mean frequent communication by e-mail or using chat tools. Physical company continues to be a must.
Fortunately most employers have been organising after-work drinks, regular lunches with the entire team and frequent team building events for quite some time already. The expectation is that these investments are necessary to keep employees happy in the short and long term.