But according to Gensler’s 2025 Global Workplace Survey, which brings together responses from 16,000+ respondents in 15+ countries, the reality is far less dramatic than it may seem. There are, of course, differences between generational preferences, but surprisingly, the groups agree on what they expect from an office and how they use or want to use it.
Below, I describe three common myths about the generation gap – and debunk them with data from Gensler.
Main findings
- The reasons why people go to the office are surprisingly similar across generations.
- People across generations have a similar idea of what an ideal work environment looks and functions like.
- Cultural context plays a much bigger role than age.
Myth 1: Every generation goes to the office for a different reason.
The data shows that the reasons for working from the office (on-site) are almost identical across age groups.
The reasons are clear: focus on work, team meetings, contact with colleagues, access to technology and the opportunity to work with your team.
The subtle differences are as follows: Younger employees (18-29 years old) are more likely to place an emphasis on professional development and mentoring – this reason ranks in the top 5. Older people (40-60 years old), on the other hand, value access to different work zones and collaboration with more senior colleagues more. These are reasons that are not obvious to younger colleagues but are essential for professional development and growth.
A good office should encourage collaboration as well as informal learning across generations and meeting colleagues.
Myth 2: The younger generation desires a completely different workplace experience than the older generation.
Data shows that people across generations perceive the ideal office very similarly.
Although today’s offices are often described as “corporate” most people across generations desire spaces that encourage creativity and collaboration.
Only 14% of respondents describe their ideal office as a “Business Hub”. A similar percentage describe the ideal office as a place in nature, a “nature retreat”, 13% as a creative lab and around 10% as a café [note: we wrote about nature in offices in this article – link to biophilic design]
Across age categories, we are therefore seeing a trend – the ideal office is no longer described as a space for pure productivity, but also as a place for creativity and collaboration.
Myth 3: The needs of different generations are identical across countries.
Data show that local culture has a greater impact on work needs than age.
Although some trends are global, differences between countries are significant. Local culture, work norms and social values influence how people perceive and expect an office.
It is thus crucial to respond to cultural differences when designing the work environment.
