Why you should Redesign your Workspace for Millennials

Entitled. Disloyal. Self-centered; these are just a few of the words commonly used to describe Millennials.

They’ve been questioned for their insistence on work-life balance. And they’ve secured a reputation for being a tad too idealistic.

They are the Millennials – America’s largest age group in the workforce as of 2015. And they’re changing the way we do business. Interestingly, the most recent reports paint a much more favorable picture of these “digital natives.”

According to a recent study by the IBM Institute for Business Value, the differences among Millennial, Gen X and Baby Boomer employees have been dramatically exaggerated. After surveying 1,784 employees across 12 countries and 6 industries, the study indicated that all three generations have similar career aspirations, attitudes and needs.

With that said, when you’re redesigning your workspace “for Millennials” you’re most likely making changes most other employees will support and appreciate as well. The reality is, the world is changing. Thanks to the increased sharing of ideas provided by technology, more workers are prioritizing elements like diversity, collaboration, comfortability and work-life balance.

Translation: You must create a desirable work environment with attention to detail in order to attract and maintain top talent in the workforce. While redesigning an office is arguably a major expense, it can be minor in comparison to the cost of high-turnover, training new employees and receiving low-output from uninspired staff members.

In short, Millennials are less likely to separate their work and personal lives in the senses that they want their work to be enjoyable. From a design perspective that means:

Creating collaborative workspaces that support sharing ideas, working in teams and making friends at work.Providing privacy options for when employees need to “get away” and think on their own.Incorporating stylish, comfortable and interesting furnishings.Outfitting your office with easily accessible tech-ports.Providing lifestyle amenities that increase comfort.

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