– Free wifi

– Vibrant workspace

– Flexible working environment

These are some of the facilities every millennial or Gen Z employee looks for. All these and much more are readily available in co-working offices. That’s why it is emerging as the hottest working space all around the world. In fact, a study conducted by Harvard Business Review shows that people report thriving levels as high as 6 on a scale of 7 in a co-working environment.

It’s no denying that co-working culture is here to stay and is only going to grow with time. Be it traditional offices or managed workspaces, organizations and leaders are trying to revamp their space to accommodate the new wave of change. So let’s see what are some of these coworking trends one can accommodate in an existing office space.

1. Flexible Workspaces

Being time-bound is a thing of the past now. People want the flexibility to achieve the much-needed work-life balance. Gen Z sees themselves working while maneuvering around household chores, running errands, bank-related tasks, or anything else. Whether it’s having flexible hours or flexible working places, it’s always a better option to provide them the flexibility they need to churn out maximum productivity. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought in flexibility en masse, owing to which the flexible working environment is only going to increase in popularity. JLL, in one of its research, predicts that 30% of all office spaces will be consumed flexibly by 2030.

2. Tech-enabled Workspaces

Today’s generations are inspired and driven by technology. From phone to desktop, they’re updated with the latest tech and apps. They like staying updated. So for a traditional office to keep up with the younger generations, it’s essential to upgrade their workspace and systems. Latest desktops, laptops, accessories, access to the latest apps and features should be provided to make their work and lives easier. A Forbes article mentions that the future office will have voice-tech to avoid touching, autonomous cleaning solutions, air-improving solutions for better productivity, and many such systems to make the workspace smarter and healthier.

3. Keeping up with the trend

Gen Z is all about staying trendy, be it technological or infrastructural advancements, or any other upgrade. The organizations have got to update the space with the latest trends, be it having bio walls and greener space for a healthier environment, fun zone, sleeping pods, gym facilities, availability of food and beverages, and more. These are some of the things people look for and they can prove to be important assets in attracting great talent to the organization. Along with this, it’s also important to replenish employees’ energy levels regularly. Quality informal sessions such as games, off-the-work interactions, learning sessions for new skills, and more are activities that can help revive employees timely.

4. Freedom and Ownership

Let’s accept it. The youth do not want to be treated as kids. And they certainly do not want to be constantly watched upon and micromanaged. They belong to the age of startup culture. Just like their personal lives, they need their space in their workspace too. What they look for is the freedom to work their way and that can be a driving factor in changing jobs too. What they aspire for is taking ownership of work and accepting more responsibilities. The more confidence leaders put on them, the more they tend to shine in their respective fields.

5. Collaboration & Networking

Gone are the days of cubicles and cabins. Open spaces are in, and people like it. Today, the concept of community is growing stronger than ever before as the younger generations like meeting new people and developing bonds. And that’s where culture and values come into the picture. Culture plays an important role in developing a collaborative environment. Working together in an open office space makes this possible and it has productivity advantages as well. In fact, one of the Deloitte research shows that organizations with a positive culture exhibited higher performance levels and put in greater discretionary effort. It’s time for networking and collaborating to nurture a healthier work environment and accomplish quality tasks at shorter times.

People drive an organization’s growth. Hence, it’s essential to keep them happy. Constantly upgrading the workspace as per the work and workforce’s needs helps in building a trustworthy and loyal community apart from providing higher productivity and output.