There is no definitive start to when a generation begins, but millennials are loosely described as the next demographic following Generation X. They are defined as people born from the early 1980s up to around the year 2000.
Their needs and wants should be important to employers, because as a generality this group of workers will not necessarily just follow the money; they want a workplace that offers a lot more.
Not only the office set up but location and amenities will play huge roles in companies’ ability to attract millennial employees. We see examples of this already impacting our commercial real estate market.
Build it and they will come
The best example of the potential in urban infrastructure catering to this upcoming work generation is Edmonton’s Ice District. Chris Nasim, vice-president of asset management for GWL Realty Advisors spoke about the importance of the project during the recent Edmonton Real Estate Forum.
“It’s not about getting a job and putting your head down,” Nasim told the forum attendees. “It’s about fun. If they don’t see fun in a job, they move.”
Nasim theorizes that the lure of the Ice District’s restaurants and entertainment attractions will entice millennial workers to consider living and working in Edmonton’s downtown, which is comparatively quieter to Calgary’s.
Additional benefits to Edmonton’s core could see the conversion of office space to residential which further enhances investment potential.
Make it comfy
Once you’ve got the right location, the setup of the office environment is almost as vital to retaining millennials. This is a social generation that values collaboration and the work space must be arranged with this in mind.
Ultimately this means creating opportunities for social interaction with coffee stations or outdoor lounge areas and providing amenities like child care.
The upside for employers is that an open work space can often mean less square footage per employee. In many cases these employees don’t have an expectation or need for private office space and can be productive in open work stations.
Millennials are environmentally conscious and are attracted to employers with shared values. Examples include bike storage, sustainability measures related to energy efficient building systems and recycling programs.
One thing is for certain, traditional office environments and big paycheques will not hold the same value for millennials as it did for the preceding workforce. It remains to be seen how far employers will bend to the wants of this generation. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Posted by Kelly Macsymic
