Gen Z workers want to return to office, says office spaces company

Gen Z workers are keen to return to the office, but if they work at the New York sites of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) they’ll have to be vaccinated. A third of survey respondents aged 16-24 said they missed socialising with colleagues and that they found it difficult to distinguish personal from working time. Over 70% said the sense of community in the workplace makes them more productive, according to research carried out by office space provider Clockwise. But both Gen Z and millennials surveyed weren’t willing to relocate to a city when restrictions will be lifted. “The past year has highlighted the benefits of working from home but also how young people especially want to work in an office at least some of the time, highlighting the myriad of intangible benefits being in an office environment can bring,” Alexandra Brunner, Clockwise chief operating officer, was reported as saying by the Evening Standard. “The trend towards regionality, where people want to work and set up businesses has been a long time coming, and this has been hugely accelerated by the pandemic.” “The concept of work is becoming far more decentralised, allowing businesses to operate efficiently from wherever their employees need. The fact that Gen Z in particular is seeking a different approach is hardly surprising – and given they are the future workforce, their preferences today will dictate how business operate in the future, they are definitely worth listening to.” Jabs first While the survey questioned young people based in the UK, their US counterparts will be required to have received both doses of a COVID-19 jab if they want to return to the offices of investment bank Morgan Stanley. “Starting July 12 all employees, contingent workforce, clients and visitors will be required to attest to being fully vaccinated to access Morgan Stanley buildings in New York City and Westchester,” a memo seen by the Financial Times read. It was sent as chief executive James Gorman encouraged staff to return to work by 6 September, which is Labor Day in the US. “If you can go to a restaurant in New York City, you can come into the office. And we want you in the office,” he said at conference. “Make no mistake about it: we do our work inside Morgan Stanley offices. And that’s where we teach, that’s where our interns learn, that’s how we develop people.” “If you want to get paid New York rates, you work in New York. None of this: ‘I’m in Colorado… and getting paid like I’m sitting in New York City.’ Sorry, that doesn’t work.”