7 Tips for Creating an Office Space Millennials Will Love
If there’s a generation that can define the twenty-first century so far, it’s the millennials. They’re present in every aspect of society, and now make up a big part of the modern workforce. Every office will have a large number of millennial workers that are a very valuable part of the team.
Since they make up most of the talent, attracting and keeping millennials in your office is a key part of modern business. With a different culture and mindset, millennials seek different conditions compared to their predecessors. If you’re looking for ideas to optimize your office for a millennial workforce, here are a few tips worth taking into consideration.
Open up the space
The modern office space is a bit more open than its older counterpart. Younger generations aren’t accustomed to outdated cubicle-filled offices. In the past decade, we’ve seen a shift towards open-plan offices that are collaborative workspaces where employees can communicate with one another at any time. However, even this system is getting old for a lot of offices, and necessitate further adjustments.
Today’s modern workspaces are trending towards a college-like study environment. It’s still an open space, but it’s organized in a way that allows employees to have some peace while they work. There might be several separated workspaces where employees can decide to work or relax. If need be, they can easily contact colleagues to work on a project or ask for help.
These spaces often contain leisure elements to help employees feel like they’re in a casual environment. If employees can rest when they need it, their productivity will increase for the remainder of the workday.
Allow flexible work hours
The classic 9-5 job is a staple of most industries. However, it might not be as effective as previously thought. Research shows that peak productivity varies from employee to employee. While one might enjoy waking up early and doing their work all through noon, others might find it difficult to get productive before lunch. When you have a diverse background of young employees, sticking to one kind of schedule might not be the most effective way to get the best work out of them.
As an employer, your top priority is that they get their work done. When and how this is achieved is less important. If you’re aiming to attract millennials while also providing them with the best working conditions, you might want to make your schedule more flexible. There’s nothing more attractive nowadays than being able to work your desired hours.
Flexible hours allow employees to reach the office when they’re most capable and well-rested, giving them an edge compared to standardized schedules. If your work allows for it, consider letting employees choose their hours. As long as they get the work done properly, when they come in doesn’t really matter.
Create a fitness area
If there’s something millennials like, it’s staying fit. Whether this is a generational thing or merely a result of them still being young and physically able, it’s hard to say. Either way, fitness is a big part of millennials’ lives and it’s a great opportunity for business owners to create a more attractive office experience.
More and more of today’s offices have fitness and recreation areas just for this reason. Employees can use their lunch breaks to get a little exercise during work hours. This helps pump them up and they then don’t have to work out at home. Having a gym at work is an advantage too good to pass up.
The convenience of working out in the office isn’t the only benefit. Exercise isn’t just a way to get your body pumped up, it also helps people stay alert. Contrary to what you might think, workouts sharpen the mind instead of leaving you fatigued and exhausted. That’s just for the muscles. An employee that works out during their break will find it a lot easier to get back to work than one that simply took their lunch break in the kitchen.
You don’t need all that much material to build an office fitness area. Get a few yoga mats, some weights, and a stationary bike or two, and you should be set. You can be sure that just about every single millennial employee will spend some time in the office gym, whether they’re doing cardio or callisthenics.
Use adaptable furniture
Speaking of keeping bodies healthy, sitting around all day at one’s desk isn’t the healthiest of habits. This is one of the more impactful disadvantages of working in an office. Employees that are constantly seated at their desk will eventually develop back problems, causing issues for both the business and the employee.
A lot of millennials are very health-conscious, and they’re aware that being seated for hours on end isn’t the healthiest option. Offering different working conditions would make this a non-issue and allow employees to keep their backs healthy.
It’s as simple as introducing adaptable furniture to your office. When people are sick of sitting down, they want to stand up. Walking to the water cooler doesn’t cut it. But, standing at one’s desk would provide the necessary back relief. Of course, employees can’t stand for hours at a time, either. Luckily, there exist adaptable office desks that allow employees to go from a seated position to standing within a minute. These desks improve employee health and mood, as employees are more grateful for the opportunity to stay healthy and avoid back problems.
Modernize the office
Technology is constantly improving and bringing new innovations to industries. Older generations have seen enormous leaps in technology that have turned from prototypes to items in our daily use. Most offices don’t take advantage of the many advancements that can make work in the office a lot easier. Millennials and younger generations have grown up with much of this technology, which is why using it comes so easily to them. With a younger workforce, you’ll need to update your office and introduce this tech to better improve ergonomics and efficiency.
Personal assistant technology like Alexa and Siri can help employees get their schedules in order. Issuing voice commands is a lot easier than having to write everything down. You also get automatic reminders for important meetings and project parts. Instead of having employees make formal announcements and organize meetings, add an interactive whiteboard to the office. Employees can write down and share their ideas with ease when everyone’s connected.
Try to limit the use of unnecessary paper trails. Physical mail and assignments can get lost, while emails cannot. It’s a simpler and safer way to transfer important information, and millennial employees will be grateful for it. A paperless office is an eco-friendly way to make improvements in productivity and information security.
Upgrade the break room
The break room is a quintessential part of every office. People need a room in which they can get away from work and take a breather. Rest is crucial for recuperating focus and continuing productive work. Break rooms should be equipped to allow employees some respite from the hectic nature of the workplace, which is why it should be somewhat isolated.
Having a few sofas and armchairs would help make the break room more relaxing. To lighten the mood, play some music in the room. Don’t go too wild with the playlist, though. Jazz and pop music are great genres for clearing your mind, but other genres aren’t out of the question either. Video games are a very popular choice for breakrooms. Having a console and TV-ready would make a young employee’s lunch break a lot more comfortable and relaxing.
Not everyone brings their own food or coffee to the office. Consider adding a vending machine to the break room. Choose one that has at least some healthy options available. Things like oatmeal, energy bars, and fruit juice would be preferable to chips and soda.
Coffee is another crucial part of any office. It jumpstarts the workday and helps employees stay productive throughout the day. Younger employees are less likely to want to boil some water and make their own coffee. Everything is fast-paced in the modern office, and there’s no time to waste. A coffee machine would be preferable to a coffee pot and grounds. To make express coffee, many offices get Lavazza coffee machines for their break rooms. With a high enough capacity, you can make sure every employee gets a quality cup of coffee within minutes of entering the break room. This leaves enough time for rest and relaxation.
Add a touch of greenery
Whichever office you visit, you’ll notice the presence of leafy plants. They’re a favourite among designers everywhere, whether they design homes or workspaces. While plants can’t grace every single workspace, offices are prime locations for a few leafy pets. Keep in mind, the function of the plants isn’t strictly related to design.
Modern offices contain plants because they provide a soothing element for employees. They’re nice to look at, but they also actively calm employees in the office. The natural green colours and patterns evoke relaxation in humans, which might be leftovers from a distant past when people lived mostly among plants.
Plants are also great at purifying the air and providing a more breathable atmosphere. Working conditions are very important for millennials, and they take note of plant presence in any office they visit. It’s not a conscious decision, but the calming effect of plants can sway their opinion.
Add low-maintenance plants wherever there’s spare floor space. If they are within eyesight of employees, their productivity will increase, just by the virtue of having a calming effect. Plants that don’t require a lot of pot space or watering will be ideal for office space, as there won’t always be someone inside to water them.
Consider letting employees keep a few plants of their own on their desks. This will help create a cozier atmosphere that feels more like home. If there’s something that younger employees like, it’s not feeling like they’re in a sterile and dull work environment. Keeping ornaments of their own will provide further relaxation as they’re working., leading to more productivity and better results. All of this comes just from a few leafy plants placed in the office. It’s hard to find a reason not to.
Conclusion
Millennials are a continuously growing workforce that can’t be ignored by employers. With every new generation, work trends change, and this generation is no different. With so many changes and innovations that are brought by twenty-first-century technology, it’s not difficult to understand why millennial culture is so different compared to their parents’. Modern offices need to adapt to fit this new kind of employee in order to get the best results out of their work.
This might seem like a monumental task, but it’s far from it. With just a few small adjustments, you can make millennials feel at home in your office without needing to sacrifice any productivity. The above examples are worth trying in any modern office, so try to consider them when designing yours.