The following words would seem like pure magic to the labor force of the 1950s — and the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and even the ‘90s: Beachfront coworking in Thailand, or in Bali with a pool. Coworking in California inside a redecorated church. Coworking in New York City in a high design feminist manifesto. Mingling with freelancers, startups, and established corporations at a coworking social club called Factory Berlin. Working a corporate job surrounded by hundreds of plants; or a giant slide between floors; or rooftop yoga sessions. Is this really what work looks like now?
We’ve come a long way from the cubicles and ticking clock of Office Space for those who work a 9-to-5 job. Because there is (practically) no more 9-to-5 — not with 24/7 email access and a generation of workers who rarely unplug. So to keep burnout at bay and accommodate this new hybrid lifestyle, the workplace has become a space to satisfy more than just the bottom line. Work has become a place for community, with flexibility at its core. Just look at the numerous studies that examine what appeals to millennials. The findings? Community, connection, purpose, and, of course, play. So that’s what the work experience has become about: striving to strike that balance.
Why all the fuss about giving millennials what they want in a workplace? Millennials currently make up more than a third of the American workforce. By 2025, it’s projected that they will make up three quarters of the global workforce. And people are working remotely in increasing numbers. The coworking industry is booming as a result, offering up both community and flexibility, and startups and corporations alike are jumping on the bandwagon as they compete for the top talent. There’s even a growing movement for redesigned office spaces, with less emphasis on open floor plans and more on flexibility and custom meeting spaces.
So job-hunting millennials aren’t just searching for the ideal job, but also the workplace that matches their values. And the options are endless: To shell out for a monthly membership at a coworking space with a catered experience of community and quiet space? To break out your laptop at a local cafe? Or to use the coworking spaces as a blueprint for how to set up your home office in a way that’s productive, yet playful. It’s a new (work) world out there, and the good news is there’s no one way to do it right.