- Over half of Gen Z workers feel more productive when they work from home
- 34% of Gen Z workers believe their workplace does not allow them to focus effectively
- The findings are the result of a survey conducted by Diamond Interiors and YouGov
A new study has claimed that Gen Z workers feel they are most productive when they work from home, rather than in the workplace, flying in the face of those trying to get people back into the office.
The Diamond Interiors report notes that focusing on work is widely recognized as improving productivity, which may explain the challenge for Gen Z. The home can be quiet, distractions are managed, and with the right setup, focused productivity can deliver early completion and potentially the ability to finish work early. With a commute to a busy office, this can seem harder to achieve.
With 53% claiming they feel more productive when working from home rather than in the noisy office, the challenge here may not be so much getting people into the office, but what the office really represents.
20-somethings don’t like the office
Over the years, office-based environments have evolved, from enclosed spaces to open floor plans, sometimes occupying an entire floor without walls. The noise – for example in call centers – can be significant and the opportunities for distraction increase rapidly. Throw in the period of forced telecommuting from 2020 to 2023, which may have also included a period of university studies for Gen Z, and you have a generation ill-equipped to deal with distractions.
The report highlights that 53% of respondents in the Gen Z cohort believe that working from home makes them more productive, with 34% blaming workplace design.
“These results highlight an important challenge facing employers,” noted Rebecca Waller, Head of Design at Diamond Interiors. “While offices remain incredibly valuable for collaboration, many employees tell us they don’t always feel like they have the right environment to focus on individual tasks.”
“In many cases, this is not necessarily because employees prefer to be at home, but because home environments often provide greater control over noise, interruptions and comfort.”
Is it the end of the office?
The big question is not “how do we successfully move on from the office” – at least not yet. Rather, it appears that offices do not offer the level of comfort and focus that Gen Z workers need. As Waller says “It’s not necessarily because employees prefer to be at home, but because home environments often offer greater control over noise, interruptions and comfort.”
She emphasizes that workspaces must support working methods that suit everyone, with open-plan solutions balanced with quieter areas, environments that can avoid distractions. If employers expect Gen Z team members to produce their best work, it will be a choice between working from home and finding a workplace design that promotes productivity, not distractions.
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