Gen Z Employees Prefer More Days in Office Than Millennials, Report Finds

NEW DELHI– Generation Z employees prefer spending more time working from the office than millennials, challenging the perception that younger workers overwhelmingly favor remote work, according to a report released Tuesday by real estate consulting firm Savills India.

The report found that Generation Z workers, generally defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, prefer working from the office an average of 3.4 days per week, compared with 3.2 days for younger millennials and 3.3 days for older millennials.

Generation X employees and Baby Boomers expressed a slightly higher preference of 3.5 days per week.

The findings suggest that Generation Z differs from the broader trend of younger employees preferring fewer days in traditional workplaces.

Despite differences in their preferred schedules, employees across all generations reported currently attending the office approximately four days per week.

The study also highlighted the importance of workplace amenities, technology and transportation access in influencing employees’ preferences.

For Generation Z, reliable high-speed Wi-Fi, convenient public transportation and access to nearby lifestyle facilities emerged as important considerations when evaluating workplaces.

Younger employees also placed greater emphasis on proximity to gyms, Pilates studios and wellness centers, reflecting their interest in maintaining healthy lifestyles alongside their professional responsibilities.

However, the report found that high-quality Wi-Fi was the most important workplace amenity across all generations.

Preferences for other office facilities varied by age. Younger employees prioritized access to public transportation, while older workers placed greater importance on the availability of meeting rooms.

“As India’s workforce evolves, organisations will need to consider how workplace design, reliable technology and connectivity can make office attendance more meaningful. Access to public transport and nearby lifestyle amenities will also be important considerations in shaping workplaces that respond to the expectations of younger employees,” said Arvind Nandan, Managing Director of Research & Consulting at Savills India.

Although Generation Z employees expressed a greater willingness to work from the office than millennials, they continued to place considerable importance on maintaining a balance between their professional and personal lives.

All Generation Z respondents described work-life balance as either moderately or extremely important, according to the report.

The findings also revealed that Generation Z employees face longer commutes than workers in other age groups.

Approximately 46% of Generation Z respondents reported traveling 41 minutes or more to reach their workplaces.

The report suggested that longer commutes could be linked to housing affordability, with younger employees more likely to live outside city centers where residential properties are less expensive.

When evaluating amenities near workplaces, restaurants ranked as the most desirable option across all age groups.

However, younger workers showed stronger preferences for fitness facilities, gyms and wellness centers than their older counterparts.

The findings indicate that employers seeking to attract and retain younger workers may need to reconsider office design, workplace flexibility and access to transportation and recreational facilities.

The report also suggests that office attendance preferences are influenced by more than generational attitudes toward remote work, with commuting conditions, workplace infrastructure and lifestyle considerations playing important roles in how employees choose to work. (Source: IANS)