Generation Y and the Workplace Annual Report 2010 - Haworth

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Focus
Environmental issues
How green would you like your workplace to be?
Overview
Environmental awareness is growing with time as more and more people are working towards becoming
environmentally friendly in the way they work and live. The green issue is also high on the corporate
agenda and more organisations are setting carbon footprint reduction targets and making their facilities
BREAM or LEED compliant. Enhancing a more sustainable way of working and a ‘greener’ workplace
environment is favoured by many Generation Y respondents. Walking to work, recycling, on-site wind
farms, relying on natural light rather than artificial are among many ways of working in a ‘greener’
workplace environment. However, achieving a green way of working and operating your facilities require
involvement of the users, the employees, and a transformation of the culture within an organisation.
The results:
We know the Generation Y will be the generation to carry the load of years of environmental damages
and neglect. They are embracing sustainability and the Generation Z, the generation that will follow
Generation Y, are even more modeled around the concept of sustainability. The results reflect this
new way of living with 96% of the 18-25 years old aspire to work in a greener office against 98% of the
26-35years old. Actually the 26-35 years old are far more focused on environmental issues than the 18-
25 years old with 67% who want their workplace to be environmentally friendly, i.e. well above regulatory
compliance, against 57% for the 18-25 years old.
The results reflect this new way of living and that the Generation Y aspires to work in a greener office.
They are eager to embrace an environmental way of working and see evidence of a green workplace.
Their preferences for an environmentally focused working environment are very strong; not only in the
physical aspects of the workplace, but also in their way of working: flexible working, travel patterns etc.
Figure 27: Environmental Workplace: Generation Y 18-25 yrs old, all countries
Global WorkPlace Innovation
Environmentally
Compliant
Compliant with environmental
legislation Compliance maintained
by resources required and
integrated into workplace
management where appropriate
Annually assess compliance.
Environmentally friendly
LEED or BREEAM assessed (including BREEAM In-use self
assessment tool) Incorporate environmental considerations into any
workplace changes/procurement Actively engage and educate staff in
how to be environmentally friendly in the workplace Certified or align
with ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems Compliant with
environmental legislation Set environmental improvement targets and
programmes to achieve these Monitor environmental performance of
the workplace and look for continuous improvement options.
Figure 28: Environmental requirements for the workplace – per age group, all countries
Figure 29a: Environmental requirements for the workplace – 18-25 years old, per countries
These two young generations are eager to embrace an environmental way of working and employers
must adopt a green office environment to attract and retain these young employees.
Copyright © 2010, Johnson Controls. Confidential. All Rights Reserved.
Intellectual Property Johnson Controls, Haworth and iDEA.
Environmentally aware
Encourage staff to have an
environmental awareness Seeking
LEED or BREEAM assessment
Compliant with environmental
legislation Monitor the environmental
performance of the workplace Have
some environmental management
programmes in place to minimise impact.
But they are not the only generation calling for green employers. The older generations are even
greener, with a mere 2% of our 26-35 years old looking for barely compliant employers.
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