Millennials are the largest generation making up today’s workforce, and they have significantly disrupted the way we work and also the places we work from.
Coworking, remote working, and flexible schedules are only a few of the boundaries millennials have pushed in the last few years. And why are companies letting their boundaries be pushed? It’s simple–the war for talent. If companies want to attract the best talent and the best clients, they need to make sure that they are catering to their needs and desires, and millennials have made it a point that they place value in more than just monetary remuneration. Companies and businesses need to think about their workplace environment, their benefits, and their value proposition in order to retain their top talent.
As regards the physical workplace, what exactly are millennials looking for? What does their ideal workspace look like?
Cutting-Edge Technology
Slow monitors, slow wifi, bad audiovisuals, complicated printing systems–these will not do for a millennial. Technology should be a given, and not just any technology; it has to be state-of-the-art, revolutionary technology, or else they’ll be out the door sooner than you can shut off your computer.
For millennials, technology and productivity go hand in hand. If the tech and softwares you have available don’t meet their expectations, then they will not be able to work as efficiently and productively as they like.
Hybrid Workplace Design
There’s no one size fits all approach to workplace design–so don’t try to make it all open plan, and don’t try to make them all private offices.
Millennials value choice. So provide them with a workspace where they can choose to work from a shared area, from a private office, from a meeting room, from a break-out area, from beanbags; the important thing here is for them to have the freedom to choose where they get their work done from–and this choice will vary by task, by mood, and by time of the day.
Amenities
Amenities are the cherry on top of a Sunday, if you will. These can range from offering gourmet coffee and tea, all the way to having catered food delivered, on-site laundry pickup and drop-off, or having a gym on-site or providing them with discounted gym membership.
It’s about showing them that you care about their lives–both professional and personal.
In any case, the only way to truly find out what millennials want from your space is by asking them; so include them in your decision-making process. Ask them what they want, and ask regularly; needs and demands vary greatly from time to time, and in order to retain the best, you need to be constantly anticipating what they’ll need next.
In any case, make your workplace a place where people want to be in, as opposed to have to be in.
