Redefining Office Culture: Employees Are Demanding New Ideas that Go Beyond Old-Fashioned Perks

By Moon Harper

Jun 18, 2024 06:24 AM EDT

Many companies are trying to revive the workplace environment by bringing back pre-pandemic perks and that familyfeeling. However, employees are now seeking more tangible ones.

Workplace Culture Before The Pandemic

Before 2020, office culture meant having an excellent workplace with lounges, well-stocked pantries, extravagant in-office happy hours, luxurious retreats, and team-building activities to create a family atmosphere. These perks were significant draws for employees in the past, and some companies were even defined by their unique office cultures.

While the work landscape has undergone significant changes in recent years, many companies remain fixated on bringing back the office culture employees left behind in 2020. However, many employees are no longer interested in returning to the past. Instead, they are now advocating for flexible work arrangements, fair compensation, and a workplace ethos that prioritizes human values over traditional perks they previously had.

Traditional Office Culture Are Becoming Irrelevant

Many employees perceive traditional office culture as irrelevant in today's remote and hybrid-first work environment. Lewis Beck, head of CBRE workplace for Europe, a global commercial real estate firm, suggests that office culture, which was originally designed to inspire and engage employees, has now lost its appeal as workplaces operate at only one-third capacity.

According to Georgina Fraser, head of human capital at CBRE, workers' evolving priorities reflect the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which granted employees unprecedented autonomy in structuring their workdays. Having experienced this newfound work-life balance, employees are unwilling to compromise on these changes. Fraser observes a resurgence in vocalization among workers post-pandemic, not only regarding office culture but also broader societal needs, with employees now demanding recognition as whole individuals, influencing how they are managed and supported, and how technology is integrated between home and office environments.

Old-Fashioned Perks Are Tone-Deaf

Fraser describes Generation Z as the activist generation, highlighting their increasing demand for accountability. This generation values amenities such as gender-neutral toilets, eco-friendly snack options, and office environments that facilitate community building. She observes a shift in expectations towards non-work-related moments, contrasting with the more work-centric focus prevalent before the pandemic. As younger individuals comprise a more significant segment of the workforce, they lack enthusiasm for traditional office cultures that they have never experienced firsthand.

Jamie Masterson, a 24-year-old digital marketing specialist who entered the workforce in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, has never experienced a non-remote office culture. Masterson has never been intrigued with traditional office perks like recreational areas and ping-pong tables but rather with tangible benefits such as pay, healthcare, and flexible time off. People can take breaks and build connections in their ways, suggesting that office perks are less valuable compared to monetary rewards, especially during times of personal and national crisis, which Masterson finds somewhat tone-deaf. While culture is cool, survival at the end of the day will always be more essential.