Generation Y and the Workplace Annual Report 2010 - Haworth

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Figure 40: Individual workspace: Gen Y 18-25 yrs old, all countries
On top of their emotional engagement with their workspace, the generation Y are also territorial and want
to call their space their own. 70% of the generation Y respondents prefer to have their own desk and as
mentioned earlier, personalise them. Less than a quarter (18%) are open to share their space with other
individuals and even less to access a hot desk or hotel desk while at work. These results demonstrate a
certain lack of collectivism of this workforce, but a need to find an identity within their workspace and how
they are attached and perceive their environment.
Figure 41: Individual space preferred at work, 18-25 years old, per country
Global WorkPlace Innovation
Brake the spatial design
rules. Cheaper and faster
is sometimes better for the
office environment.
Esmi, 1981
Some countries offer far more potential to embrace flexible working. China compared to the US is far
less dependent on personal space. With 80% of the young American preferring to have their own desk
against only 55% of the Chinese. The potential for desk sharing is also far greater in China than in any
other country we studied, with 27% of the 18-25 years old ready to share a desk and 18% who would
consider using a hot desk.
Recommendations:
Dedicated individual spaces are a necessity
Identify potential to introduce desk sharing for nearly a fifth of the young workforce
Promote flexible working policies
Impose clean desk policies to boost desk sharing
Allow for moderate personalisation of individual spaces while at work
Copyright © 2010, Johnson Controls. Confidential. All Rights Reserved.
Intellectual Property Johnson Controls, Haworth and iDEA.
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