A conversation that impacts our clients as much as our own office, is how to best design and deliver a workspace that supports the five generations that comprise today’s workforce (Traditionalists or Maturists (before 1945), Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964) Gen X (1965-1976), Gen Y or Millennials (1977-1997), Gen Z (after 1997).

Broadly speaking, each of the 5 generations in the workplace have their own sets of values, work habits, communication and technology preferences and stereotypes.

And while it is important to recognize and understand the differences, tensions and why one work space won’t work for the other….

…good workplace design must focus on creating spaces that support people not generations. And people are more similar than different.

To that end, there are a few important office layout strategies that all ages and life stages can get behind.

  1. Design for current AND desired behaviors
  2. Embrace and encourage change and flexibility
  3. Designate clear activity based settings
  4. Invest in technology and furniture that promotes productivity and mobility
  5. Blur the line between workplace and the comfort of the home
  6. Value retaining as much as recruiting