Generation Y and the Workplace Annual Report 2010 - Haworth

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Art @ work
The question of Art in the workplace is very controversial as not everybody appreciates nor likes Art.
Often Art is an exhibition of wealth and the common understanding is that if an organisation can afford
to invest into Art, then it is a wealthy organisation. Although the reality of corporate investment into Art
is somehow very different:
Art could be a stable financial investment and a demonstration of an organisation capital investment
Art is often used to promote local talent and support local communities
Art is a symbol to promote a company culture, tradition and values
Art is decorative as designer furniture are
Art is inviting employees to explore new horizons
Art gives an identity to a space
It is also argued that Artwork can provide a well-needed distraction to prevent excessive concentration
on a computer monitor and if the workforce is in a creative industry, then displaying art can provide
inspiration, trigger creativity and impact on productivity.
So how does this question of Art matters to the Generation Y? Is Art an important element in our
working environment?
Overall, across our sample of respondents, 59% agreed that a little presence of Art in the office is
enough. Only 8% prefer a lot of Art in the office, with 3% actually having no particular attraction to Art in
the workplace.
Figure 36: Level of Art in the workplace - 18-25 yrs old,
all countries
Particularly, the Art & Design sector leads the way with 23% of their respondent preferring a lot of Art in
their workplace, against only 3% in the financial sector but still being the sector with the highest demand
for Art in the Workplace with the Media, Marketing and Communication Sector.
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Exactly the same answers applied to the Generation X. These
results demonstrate that the Generation Y does not differ from
the overall global sample and overall Art has a little importance
in the workplace. However if we breakdown the answers per
industry sector, we can start to observe major differences.
Figure 37: Preferences for Art in the workplace per industry sector, 18-25 years old, all countries
Preferences in terms of the look and feel of the working environment are also interesting.
Natural finishes are a preference across the sample of respondents and the majority privileged
natural features
Offer a modern, open and light working environment
Privilege natural fittings and lighting around the working environment
Consider Art in the working environment
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