The youngest workers have a different perspective on what employment looks like
Generation Alpha, in a recent survey, revealed how they expect workplaces to look and what’s in store for the future of employment, reflecting a shift in perspective among the youngest generation of workers.
According to a survey of 11–17-year-olds by hybrid working solution provider International Workplace Group (IWG), AI and technology will dominate the workplace, while long commutes and even emails will become a thing of the past.
The study revealed that 86% of the Gen Alpha respondents believe their work life will look drastically different to their parents’.
Optimistically, a third believe the four-day work week will be common practice by 2040.
Tech to play a stronger role
According to Gen Alpha, tech and more specifically, AI, will play a much more important role in the day-to-day for employees.
By 2040, 88 per cent of respondents believe they will be regularly working with AI or robots, while 38 per cent are already using generative AI tools.
This could shake up the office norms that have become second nature. According to almost a third (32%) of the Gen Alpha respondents, emails will become a thing of the past by 2040.
There are some ambitious and exciting changes that this cohort expect to emerge in the workplace, including:
- VR headsets for 3D virtual meetings (38%)
- Gaming areas (38%)
- Sleeping pods (31%)
- Personalised temperature and light settings (28%)
- Augmented reality meeting rooms (25%)
Commute time reduction a priority
The younger generation expressed a desire to slash commute times through hybrid and remote working, and by living in close proximity with their employer’s home base. Under a third (29%) said they would travel more than half an hour for work.
Meanwhile, 81% said hybrid working will become standard practice. Only 17% believe they will be working from the main office every day.
For three quarters of respondents, reducing time wasted through commuting would be a top priority.
Gen Alpha listed the benefits of a hybrid working model as:
- Less travel stress (51%)
- Spending more time with friends and family (50%)
- Improved health and wellbeing (43%)
- More productive workers (30%)
IWG’s founder and CEO, Mark Dixon, said this insight reflects and a strong integration of smart technologies to streamline processes.
“The next generation of workers have made their views clear; flexibility in where and how they work is not optional, but a must. The current generation have grown up seeing their parents waste time and money on long, daily commutes and technology today has effectively rendered them redundant,” said Dixon.
“Technology has always shaped the world of work and will continue to do so. 30 years ago, saw the transformative impact of the widespread adoption of email and today the advent of AI and robots is having an equally profound impact and will influence how and where Gen Alpha work tomorrow.”
