Work Redefined: The 21st Century Workplace

Generation Y is bigger than the Baby Boomer generation. As Boomers retire and more Millennials move into ranks of authority, the 21st Century workplace is going to see some major shifts. These shifts are already happening, and they are redefining the workplace.

Generation Y is bigger than the Baby Boomer generation. As Boomers retire and more Millennials move into ranks of authority, the 21st Century workplace is going to see some major shifts. These shifts are already happening, and they are redefining the workplace.

WORKING WITHOUT WALLS

Try to get a coffee in Boulder, Colorado and you’ll find the shops swamped with patrons on laptops, professionals working. I’ve been working full-time from home for years. The workplace no longer needs to be office space. Even when I was working in an office, most of my work could be easily done remotely. And I’m not an exception. Telecommuting is the future, and the future is now.

Currently 35-45% of employees are virtual employees.  Having both on-site and remote employees allows companies to get work done around the clock and cut back on commuting. Further, attracting distant talent is easier for organizations who don’t require employees to be in an office in a specific location.

CREATING A COMMUNITY

Even if your employees are not together in the same room or building, creating a community is key for success in the 21st Century workplace. The struggle in the past was how to get employees to serve organization’s goals. The new challenge is how to create a community of collaboration that gets employees wanting to bring the best and brightest innovations and ideas to the table.

The 21st Century workplace is less about hierarchy of power, and all about collaborating at all levels.

Generation Y wants to be part of the conversation, to listen and be listened to. They want to be passionate about their work and feel empowered to act. It’s in this type of workplace environment where employers will see engagement and the best work from the next generation of employees.

KEEPING WORK SOCIAL

A culture of social media can help keep a virtual team well connected and build a sense of community. The workplace today is social, whether you ban Facebook in the office or not. Encouraging your employees to stay connected through social networking will not only result in a more engaged workforce, but will also make your company more attractive to young talent.

Creating a social workplace isn’t just about keeping up on weekend plans; it’s about easily collaborating on projects. Think digital platforms that include calendars, document sharing and social networking. The 21st Century workplace keeps employees collaborating and engage by creating digital platforms where they can easily connect on projects. Work no longer needs to be done in one physical space, and the same goes for collaboration.

As companies embrace the future of work, a workplace model completely redefined from generations ago, they’ll gain an advantage in attracting and keeping young talent. This isn’t just the future of work, this is the future of your business. Generation Y is coming in, and if they don’t like the workplace environment companies offer, they are not afraid to create their own companies.