Design, technology and location – what does Generation Y want from the workplace?
MILWAUKEE, March 7 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson Controls, the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel, has launched a research project called OXYGENZ — a global survey of Generation Y (18-25 year-olds) to understand their preferences for their future workplace. The survey was developed by the company’s Global Workplace Solutions business in partnership with Haworth, a global leader in the design and manufacture of adaptable workspaces.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070930/AQSU001LOGO)
OXYGENZ will investigate how, where and when young people wish to work. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, this new knowledge will inform businesses about the workplace attributes essential in the recruitment and retention of young people. OXYGENZ is sponsored and supported by leading global corporations including the BBC, BP and Cisco, looking to understand young people’s choices on a global scale.
At http://www.oxygenz.com/, students and young workers can participate in an ingenious, interactive online survey, building a profile of their ideal workplace which they can share with friends and other survey respondents around the world.
Johnson Controls has the largest global real estate and facilities management business and thus is interested in creating smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Its Global WorkPlace Solutions offering provides a single-source for real estate portfolio management, design and project management, strategic consulting, energy and facilities management services. It currently manages over one billion square feet of corporate real estate for some of the world’s leading companies.
Guy Holden, Vice President and General Manager of Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions, comments: “For the first time ever, four generations are working side by side. As the baby boomers of the 1950’s start to retire, businesses are facing a fundamental shortfall in talent. Providing a stimulating working environment is going to be a key factor in the war for future talent. The OXYGENZ survey is one of the biggest research projects our innovation team has undertaken and it is also one of the most exciting. The knowledge gained from the survey will play an important role in helping us advise our clients on preparing their workplaces to attract Generation Y and support their long-term business success, as well as furthering our vision to create a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world.”
Kate North, Global Director of Ideation for Haworth comments: “We are delighted to be a research partner with Johnson Controls on this global study and intrigued with the possible design and cultural implications. This research will provide Haworth and our client’s meaningful insights as they begin to leverage the workplace as a competitive and strategic recruitment tool, especially when aligned with technology and sustainability initiatives. Generational research cannot be ignored for effective business planning. The global reach of this research project, and the involvement of international partners, will guarantee new knowledge.”
To disseminate the survey throughout the world, Johnson Controls has already linked up with the University of Central London in the UK, Cornell University in the US, Thammasat University in Thailand, University Paris La Vilette in France, The Hague University in The Netherlands, Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research in Mumbai India and Fraunhofer University in Germany. Johnson Controls and Haworth are also developing links with other institutions to promote OXYGENZ across all continents.
Creator of the survey, Dr. Marie Puybaraud, Director of Global WorkPlace Innovation at Johnson Controls, comments: “This is the type of ingenious research that pushes our boundaries of understanding when it comes to how young people view the workplace and the role it plays in their employment choices. The findings will tell us the emphasis that Generation Y puts on the workplace, its design, smart environments and technologies they would prefer to use, the facilities they want on site, as well as their views on environmental issues. By undertaking this survey globally, we will gain a unique insight into the preferences of Generation Y, how they differ across continents and how these perspectives change and develop over time.”
Findings will be published on http://www.globalworkplaceinnovation.com/ in the autumn.
To find out more about Generation Y visit http://www.oxygenz.com/ or http://www.haworth.com/.
About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.
About Haworth
Haworth, Inc. is a global leader in the design and manufacture of office furniture and adaptable workspaces, including raised access floors, moveable walls, systems furniture, seating, storage and wood case goods. Family-owned and privately held, Haworth is headquartered in Holland, Michigan, and serves markets in more than 120 countries through a global network of 600 dealers. The company had net sales of US $1.66 billion in 2007. http://www.haworth.com/
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Johnson Controls
