What do different generations need from the office?

To accommodate the needs of employees on a multigenerational team, the key is flexible workspace, equipped with customisable furnishings, including mobile partitions and meeting booths, and sit-to-stand desks with standalone privacy screens. Such furniture pieces allow workers to seamlessly adjust their working environment to their needs and preferences.

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Generations in the office

• Traditionalists are drawn to simple, old-school solutions, such as whiteboards for brainstorming and intuitive monitors for content sharing. As they are used to face-to-face business communication, they also appreciate the opportunity to use private meeting spaces in the office. 

• Accustomed to the cubicle working environment, baby boomers prioritise privacy. Design solutions offering isolation and personal space are essential for this group. Phone booths serve as an ideal choice for individuals holding regular meetings with clients, business partners, or colleagues.

• Self-reliant Latchkey Generation (Gen X) needs workspaces ensuring individual focus.

• Millennials appreciate the resimercial office design and look for harmony with nature. Spaces featuring cosy furnishings, natural lighting, and greenery are what they need.

• Gen Z wants a transparent, inclusive, open-plan layout, additionally designed with the ESG principles in mind.

Traditionalists. The silent generation of people born between 1925-1945.

Traditionalists are the oldest generation of employees making up only 3% of the present-day workforce. Named for their appreciation of tradition, they usually prefer to work within the system rather than revolutionise it. By delaying their retirement, traditionalists help bridge the knowledge gap, providing valuable wisdom and wider context that younger employees frequently lack.

Traditionalists are considered the most loyal generation.

Many traditionalists have dedicated their entire careers to one workplace, often promoting to upper management positions. Given their frequent participation in meetings, providing premium meeting spaces, such as hushMeet, is particularly beneficial for this group.

Traditionalists prefer the traditional way of doing things.

They consider new technologies as new-fangled and overtly complex. They tend to choose simple rolling whiteboards over modern, electronic solutions. For a simple, yet effective furniture solution that aligns with their preferences, consider our hushWall.

They prefer in-person communication over hybrid discussions.

This applies particularly to business meetings since traditionalists are used to conducting business mostly face-to-face.

If you want to meet the needs of traditionalists on your team, keep things simple.

It’s crucial that the office provides employees with an adequate number of meeting spaces for face-to-face conversations. Simple collaborative solutions, such as user-friendly monitors for content sharing and standalone whiteboards for collaborative ideation are worth considering, too.

Baby boomers are the generation born between 1945-1964.

Another group with its unique characteristics and needs. Pew Research referred to baby boomers as the “gloomiest generation” since they tend to worry about their earnings keeping up with the rising costs of living. This pressure stems from their genuine commitment to family and the willingness to provide for their nearest and dearest.

As workers, baby boomers are diligent, competitive and goal-oriented.

They grew up with a deeply ingrained vision of a good life, meaning a family and a house, and believed in the rewards of hard work to realise that dream. This attitude is reflected in their working style: pressing on despite difficulties.

Baby boomers’ careers emerged during the era of cubicles, making office privacy of utmost importance to them.

Baby boomers value user-friendly privacy solutions, such as mobile whiteboard dividers and private office pods. They also benefit from office amenities that offer more personal space.

Office phone booths make a top-notch furnishing option for baby boomers.

Many employees from this generation hold managerial roles involving regular communication with clients, business partners, and colleagues. Office booths, such as hushPhone, is an excellent choice, providing impeccable acoustics, complete speech privacy, and a peaceful working environment. 

Unlike unpredictable open-plan layouts, call booths, such as hushPhone, offer reliable workspaces. They provide baby boomers with the robust working environment necessary for holding effective calls amidst office hustle and bustle. Whether nurturing a prospect for conversion or guiding a new hire through challenging situations, attentive communication is essential. Regardless of your goal, hushPhone ensures smooth, effective communication that helps realise it

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Gen X, also known as the Latchkey Generation, encompasses individuals born between 1965-1980.

A lot of Gen Xers had little parental supervision during childhood, which turned them into self-reliant, independent spirits. Indeed, they are inventive and goal-oriented. Having entered the job market before technology forced round-the-clock availability, they tend to put work-life balance first.

With their strong sense of independence, Gen Xers enjoy working individually in the office.

That’s why solo work pods, such as hushHybrid, are a perfect choice for this group, cancelling out office distractions and enclosing them in a bubble of independent focus.

Millennials, also known as Gen Y, were born between 1981-1995.

Gen Y are tech-natives, driven by a sense of purpose. While they make up the biggest part of the workforce, they are also most likely to quit if not satisfied with their job. Therefore their preferences and motivations need to be addressed and understood.

According to research, millennials are in fact the least engaged generation.

We have already discussed different methods to win them over, such as keeping them focused on the goal, offering regular one-to-ones, and putting their well-being (instead of productivity) first. So, what is it that they need from their workspace?

Millennials prefer the resimercial design and a cosy working environment.

For inspiration, read our article about kawaii style 🙂

To foster the well-being of your millennial employees, you need to establish a strong biophilic connection, too.

Use the healing power of nature. Provide reliable WiFi connection in outdoor working areas. Allow more natural lighting and plants into the workspace. By turning shared access points into relaxing, cafe-like areas, you will meet the millennials’ fundamental need for socialisation in the office.

Gen Z. Generation born between 1995-2010.

It’s the youngest part of the workforce. Unlike previous generations kindly asking for it, Gen Zers are assertive and self-confident, expecting certain amenities, such as work flexibility. While traditionalists and baby boomers are unwilling to question authority, this generation can challenge everything.

It might seem surprising that it’s Gen Zers who missed the physical office the most during the pandemic compared to other generations. They longed for the social aspect of the workplace, the feeling of camaraderie, and mentorship. That’s why pods such as hushMeet are an excellent office solution for Gen Zers, guaranteeing the undivided attention they require. Through collaboration with older, more experienced team members, they will gain more confidence in navigating the dynamic, unpredictable world

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Depicted as the most stressed-out generation, Gen Zers expect support for their emotional well-being.

The implications for your office will be unique. You might consider providing patio workspaces or vertical garden walls for enhanced air quality. Additionally, you can designate additional mental health days or equip the office with comfy, cocooning armchairs for regular relaxation.

By and large, Gen Zers will accept a job offer with employers who make mental health care an essential part of their policy. Privacy is another crucial element, especially in case of open-plan layouts, as lack of it impedes focus and productivity, leading to anxiety in the workspace. Thus, in order to meet Gen Zers’ need for security in the working environment, consider investing in office pods, such as those from our Hushoffice collection. They serve as hushed, self-contained, comfortable spaces equipped with all amenities necessary to focus on your task at hand

– explains Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

The majority of Gen Zers expect a layout that says transparency and teamwork rather than siloed hierarchy.

To realise it, consider implementing open benching and providing relaxed, shared spaces, such as lounges, within the floor layout. Modular furniture will be spot on thanks to its flexibility and adaptability to the changing needs of the hybrid office environment.

FInd out more: What does Gen Z want out of the office?

ESG is Gen Z’s language.

They are attracted to sustainable and inclusive workspaces. If you are considering pods, booths, or cabins, make sure that you also include a wheelchair-accessible option, such as hushAccess.L. Even small factors can make a big difference between inclusiveness and lack of accessibility.

Flexible office furnishings allow you to meet the diverse needs of various generations in the workplace.

Step into the pod suitable for your task. Adjust its lighting for users’ maximum comfort. Roll the whiteboard to the space that the majority of team members find most convenient. The key is flexibility giving you control over the working environment. It fosters seamless, smooth communication and effective collaboration, allowing different generations to join forces and work efficiently as one team.

If you need some more ideas, check out our Hushoffice collection of mobile meeting cabins, booths, pods, and other flexible furniture solutions ideal for hybrid working environments.

Generations in the office

• Traditionalists are drawn to simple, old-school solutions, such as whiteboards for brainstorming and intuitive monitors for content sharing. As they are used to face-to-face business communication, they also appreciate the opportunity to use private meeting spaces in the office. 

• Accustomed to the cubicle working environment, baby boomers prioritise privacy. Design solutions offering isolation and personal space are essential for this group. Phone booths serve as an ideal choice for individuals holding regular meetings with clients, business partners, or colleagues.

• Self-reliant Latchkey Generation (Gen X) needs workspaces ensuring individual focus.

• Millennials appreciate the resimercial office design and look for harmony with nature. Spaces featuring cosy furnishings, natural lighting, and greenery are what they need.

• Gen Z wants a transparent, inclusive, open-plan layout, additionally designed with the ESG principles in mind.

Generations in the office – frequently asked questions

What do traditionalists look for in the office?

Traditionalists need user-friendly collaborative solutions, such as standalone whiteboards and accessible content-sharing monitors. Additionally, they can benefit from private meeting spaces, such as hushMeet, since they are used to conducting business face-to-face.

What do baby boomers look for in the office?

This generation prioritises privacy. As they used to work in the era of cubicles, adjusting to the open-plan layout is a challenge for them. Privacy solutions, including personal pods or noise-cancelling screens will be spot on. Since they hold regular calls with business partners, clients, or other team members, phone booths will be an excellent choice. Consider hushPhone offering unparalleled speech privacy and pleasant tranquillity.

What does Gen X look for in the office?

The majority of Gen Xers had little parental supervision during childhood, so they got accustomed to working independently most of the time. If your workplace tends to get noisy, thus impeding focus, consider introducing work booths, such as hushHybrid. They provide the peaceful, focus-conducive isolation that allows your Gen X teammates to spread their wings and perform at their best.