New ways of working and, above all, of understanding work are transforming the spaces in which teams and collaborators seek to develop their work activities. Flexible, healthy and safe places, where physical and mental well-being, sustainability and creativity are already a priority for the success of any team.
It is not enough to offer pleasant and flexible workspaces for your employees; it is not even enough to establish a hybrid on-site model. In 2024, the trends already established are that both Millennials and Generation Z are looking for their work environment to share their values of social commitment and sustainability.
In this article we will give you the keys on which you should adapt the new workspaces to the specific needs of your team, from the initial assessment to what changes to implement as a priority. Discover how a coherent and strong organizational culture focused on employee well-being can foster a work environment that drives innovation and cohesion within your team.
Assesses the needs of the team
Whether you are a new company or an existing one looking for a new workspace or to renovate your existing one, the first thing you should do is identify the needs of your employees. Some of the tools to do so are:
- Direct surveys and create spaces for feedback from these surveys.
- Individual interviews to understand the particular needs of each employee.
- Direct observation of how the workspace is currently used.
- Build a needs profile: Synthesizes the information gathered to build a detailed profile of the team’s needs.
New workspaces that care for mental and physical health
The hybrid work model is here to stay because, according to data from WeWork’s latest study, The company’s commitment to the environment is conducive to increased well-being in the workplace. Thus, the figures revealed that those who work in a hybrid model experience positive results in their mental health (57%), creativity (43%), productivity (64%), commitment to the company (50%), job satisfaction (57%) and work-life balance (71%).
Companies must take into account that employees need workspaces where they can interact and work depending on their needs at any given time.
In practice, this means that quiet spaces in which concentration is the priority, and others in which the priority is to release stress and encourage interaction with colleagues, impromptu meetings and the generation of ideas in less formal spaces than a meeting room, must coexist.
New ways of working and understanding work are resulting in new workspaces becoming flexible, healthy and safe places, where physical and mental well-being, sustainability and creativity are a priority.
Ergonomics and open spaces
Today’s offices must be arranged in open spaces with furniture that can be rearranged according to the needs of the moment. They must be multipurpose spaces that can be adapted to the needs of the company to hold events or other corporate events.
In addition, the employees themselves demand spaces with green areas, with lots of natural light, neutral colors since all this helps reduce stress and a greater sense of calm that translates into work well-being.
Workspaces that create organizational culture
The obligation of presence is part of a pre-pandemic past, now the work is no longer only hybrid, but it is increasingly strong trend that many workers come to the offices because they seek to experience the sensations that only find to be face to face.
These distinct, innovative and exclusive workspaces in turn serve to create an organizational culture that reinforces the company’s brand values and sense of belonging.
Workers’ needs go beyond simply a space to work. The trend is to live experiences when going to work spaces. The trend is to have a 5-star hotel style, with healthy gastronomy for breaks, gym, games and corporate events beyond the work environment.
Social and environmental commitment, priorities for new teams
For companies it is important to know the values of the two majority generations currently in the labor market: millennials and generation Z, since they are the largest percentage of workers in companies today.
In hybrid work models, the trabajo en equipo, la socialización y la pertenencia to a group are very important values for the millennials. According to a Gallup studyThis group has a permanent need for constant learning and see every job challenge as an opportunity for personal and professional development.
Generation Z is socially and politically very active. For them, ESG (environmental and social governance), DEI and sustainability are key issues. They expect the companies they work with to share their values and promote social justice and environmental commitment.
Workplace flexibility is very high on the list of requirements for Millennials and Generation Z. For these two generations, flexible workspaces are not an option. They assume that they do not need to be 100% present in the office and that they can organize their own working day.
Companies must take into account that these are not generations that find it difficult to leave a job if they do not feel aligned with the company’s values or if they do not feel professionally valued.
Collaborative, sustainable spaces with social impact
Millennials and Gen Z seek these collaborative values, the company’s own spaces, sustainability and social commitment in the spaces in which they work in person. Therefore, they value and prioritize the offices and coworking spaces supported by renewable energy, which and participate in social actions, and that the companies themselves members of the space share the same values.
Integrated technology to facilitate communication and efficiency
In today’s work environment, it seems redundant to talk about the importance of technology, but we cannot fail to point out the importance of using new technological innovations to manage resources more efficiently, both in terms of space and of the employees themselves.
These tools not only break down physical barriers, allowing collaborators to work together regardless of their geographic location, but they also enable faster and more efficient decision making in many cases.
We live in this era with tools as common as video calls, to the most innovative, such as Augmented Reality. which is revolutionizing the business sector, allowing a customer experience, and the worker himself, much more faithful to reality but with the advantages of doing it from a screen.