Baby boomers place more importance on tech in flexible offices than Gen Z

According to our research, technology actually becomes more important to those workers in flexible office space with age. In our European What Coworkers Want report*, we highlight that 84% of staff in flexible offices aged 55+ consider tech elements such as the quality of WiFi and mobile signal important, compared to 65% in the 18-24 age group.

Jessica Alderson, global research analyst at Workthere, comments:

Given that it is the Gen Z age group that has grown up in a world where tech is an established and progressing part of society, it is very interesting to note that it is in fact the Baby Boomer category of those working in flexible offices that places a greater importance on tech in the workplace.

Our research confirms that, overall, technology is ranked as the most crucial factor for flexible office workers, with 78% considering it important, just ahead of ‘essentials’ (such as lighting and air quality) and location. However, whilst it is the most important aspect for workers, only 62% of those surveyed are satisfied with the current technology in their flexible office space, resulting in a satisfaction gap of 16%. When considering the different types of technology, our What Coworkers Want report shows that 80% of flexible workers think WiFi is the most important aspect, but only 61% are satisfied with their current WiFi provision. In comparison, the mobile signal in a flexible office was ranked by 77% of respondents as important, with a satisfaction level of 64%.

Cal Lee, global head of Workthere, says:

In line with the developments in technology, many businesses have now come to rely on emails and the internet to communicate and perform daily operations. It is therefore not surprising that WiFi and mobile signal is ranked so highly by those in flexible office space. However, what is interesting is the lower satisfaction levels indicating that providers need to ensure they are delivering a strong digital infrastructure in order to retain and attract new members. WiFi is a particularly key area and we are now seeing certifications, such as those from WiredScore, which rate digital connectivity.

Read our full press release here.