This is a study which challenges certain preconceived ideas about a certain disengagement of younger people from the office and face-to-face work. A survey carried out by Ifop for the real estate developer WO2, specializing in wood and low carbon, ensures that “the quality of a company’s offices is a key element in the eyes of 18-35 year olds”, particularly when they “reflect a strong environmental commitment”.
According to Ifop, 92% of 18-35 year olds believe that “the environmental commitment of a company plays an important role in their decision to join it”. And 46% even believe that this criterion is “priority”. A postulate which had already been drawn up by a survey in July 2023, conducted by the Harris Institute for the collective “For an ecological awakening”, and which assured that “70% of young people aged 18 to 30 are ready to give up a job offer if the employer does not take environmental issues into account.
However, on this subject, this survey reveals that the question of premises is central. Thus, 62% of young people consider that “this environmental commitment involves improving the energy performance of offices”. Likewise, 40% of young people believe that this commitment “must result in offices with high environmental performance”, which can include a low carbon footprint, optimization of the resources used or even particular attention to respect for biodiversity.
Beyond attractiveness, the quality of offices as well as their environmental commitment greatly determine the rate of face-to-face and teleworking, says the survey.
According to the study, 18-35 year olds would see the improvement of their “work environment” as the second criterion for going to the office more – after the search for a better social connection with colleagues. And in particular “offices that provide well-being, built in natural materials and equipped with large outdoor spaces”. A sign of the importance of this factor, “71% of young people surveyed said they were ready to extend their commute to work, up to fifteen minutes, in order to benefit from such an environment”.
Aspirations not yet fulfilled
So what is the ideal office according to young people? 56% of 18-35 year olds consider “the quality of interior fittings” to be decisive to Ifop, whether through convivial spaces, equipped meeting rooms, boxes for making calls, or even indoor vegetation. Then for 49% of young people we find access to certain services (crèche, bicycle parking, diversified catering), for 36% the performance of the building in terms of carbon footprint, or even for 33% of them the architectural quality of the place (high ceiling height, natural light).
Aspirations which are still far from being acquired: thus, 54% of young people believe that offices must “further evolve” to meet these demands. “This survey reveals great consistency in the expectations of younger populations regarding companies. The environmental commitments of the latter are essential to attract talent, but must be embodied in concrete, palpable achievements useful to the community” , explains Marc Lafont, the president of WO2.