FACILITIES MANAGEMENT JOURNAL JOBS
Picture the average o ice
a quarter of a century
ago and compare it with
one today. Far fewer computers
would be the obvious di erence,
but the changes are more farreaching.
The o ice environment
has changed dramatically over the
past 25 years, driven largely by the
digital revolution and the welcome
simplification it has brought in terms
of the o ice layout.
What would have been taking up the
space in an o ice? Many fax machines,
quite likely, and piles of paperwork.
Today many of these things are now
disappearing from the workplace, along
with the humble stapler. Other things
that have made quiet exits include the
unwieldy post trolley and large
filing cabinets taking up swathes of
floor space.
Like many industries, FM has evolved
alongside the changing workspace.
Usually one step ahead of the curve,
the industry is by its very nature adept
at managing change. So, what can the
industry expect from the next quarter
century? How will the o ice evolve
again? And what will be the driving
force behind that evolution?
SUSTAINABILITY – A FORCE
FOR CHANGE
I believe the work space of the future
will be built around the core principals
of sustainability, focused on meeting
the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their needs. The
o ice of tomorrow is a sustainable
workplace designed and built to
sustain a workforce.
To find out more about this workforce
of tomorrow, BRITA commissioned
a piece of research to look more in
depth at the views of 1,000 Generation
Z and Millennials specifically around
sustainability and corporate social
responsibility (CSR) in the workplace.
The findings reveal this age bracket is
a force for change – they are driven to
be the change they hope to see in the
world. Their sustainability beliefs are
strong, as is their belief in hard work,
which means businesses who are able
to meet high demands in terms of their
place of work, will likely benefit from
loyal and driven employees.
WHAT DOES CHANGE LOOK LIKE?
What do Generation Z and Millennials
expect from employers when it comes
to their workplace? A survey of 1,000
Millennials (those born from the
early 80s to mid-90s) and Generation
Z (born between the mid-90s and
mid-00s) around sustainability and
corporate social responsibility (CSR)
in the workplace shows its sustainable
buildings and sustainable working
practices.
This younger generation value highly
the sustainability credentials of their
employer, with an overwhelming
majority (86 per cent) saying they
would stay at a company longer if it
reported back on how it is lowering its
impact on the environment. In terms of
priorities, the top three CSR objectives
that matter to the younger generation
are an environmentally-friendly
building (46 per cent) and support
for health and wellbeing, crucially
including mental health (45 per cent).
PRIORITISING HUMANS AND THEIR
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Millennials and Generation Z believe in
facilitating change. This is a generation
that has already witnessed how nations
came together and banned CFC gases
in the 90s, which directly resulted in
the recovery of the ozone layer today.
This too is a generation that has grown
up with and seen first-hand the impact
of climate change and pollution and is
deeply concerned about the future.
Our research shows that the majority
of Generation Z and Millennials would
feel proud to work at a company
that prioritises sustainability and
environmental credentials. This isn’t
just about eco-friendly initiatives, but
also human friendly. BRITA found that
the most popular initiative is being
flexible in terms of working hours and
location, with 50 per cent citing this
as their top priority. Openness and
transparency also ranked highly (46 per
cent), as well as investment in personal
development (44 per cent).
What facilities contribute to creating
a positive, sta -friendly workspace?
Simple measures count for a lot, our
research revealed, with a few quick and
easy changes creating lasting impact.
Quiet zones (52 per cent), hydration
stations (31 per cent) and comfy seating
areas (31 per cent) are considered the
most important design elements for
today’s workplace.
Overall, however, being in an
environmentally-friendly building is
cited as the single most important
element for the younger generation
when it comes to considering where to
work or what job to apply for. The ideal
is arriving at work and stepping into
a building that has been designed to
meet high standards in terms of a low
impact on the environment and a high
impact on employees’ wellbeing.
HEALTH AND NUTRITION FACILITIES
AT WORK
Our research also showed a health and
nutrition station is the most popular
step employers can take to create a
sustainable work environment. This is
simple to achieve, by o ering fresh fruit
plus a BRITA VIVREAU ViTap to provide
filtered cold, still and sparkling water
on demand, as well as hot water for
co ees and teas.
In today’s workplace, sustainability
is more important than ever. And for
those who fall under the Generation
Z and Millennial label, it could be the
single aspect of their working lives that
matters most. What we now know is
that it is important for organisations to
focus on their CSR and sustainability
credentials if they are to retain the
talent of the future
The facilities provided in a workplace,
whatever the industry, contribute
enormously to the health and wellbeing
of the workforce. It is important to
recognise that a healthy workforce is
also a productive one, which in turn
leads to the productivity and success of
businesses and the UK economy as a
whole. When sustainability is the focus,
the future is bright.
To read more about sustainability in the
workplace and the younger generation,
including expert advice and useful
tips, read the full toolkit ‘Life is Better
Filtered: Corporate School of Expertise’
at www.fmj.co.uk/brita-white-paper-2/
TOMORROW’S PEOPLE
Sarah Taylor, Managing Director of BRITA UK, shares advice on how to optimise
today’s busy offi ce space for the newest generation in the workforce
THE OFFICE SPACE OF THE FUTURE
What are the top five elements the younger generation would like to see in the workplace?
A health and nutrition station with free health food and unlimited still and sparkling
filtered water (54 per cent)
A single-use plastic-free environment (44 per cent)
Areas for rest (33 per cent)
Areas in the workplace that facilitate different types of work (32 per cent)
In-house gym (31 per cent)
MAY 2019 59
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