Young Workers Don’t Want To Go Back To The Office … Will They Do It For The ‘Gram?

At the peak of COVID-19, many young professionals thought that the remote work revolution was here to stay — and with good reason, since many of their bosses assured them it was.

But as time marches on and office space goes unused, many companies are trying to get employees in offices or cubicles. Thus far, direct threats and vague promises haven’t made return-to-office mandates any more popular.

So some companies are turning to a new tactic that some believe will do the trick.

Designed to succeed

Whether you’re an aspiring influencer or you avoid social media at all costs, you’re probably familiar with the trend of (mostly) young adults who share photos of just about every aspect of their lives online.

Hoping to tap into this craze, companies like Magic Spoon, a cereal company with office space in Manhattan, are investing in “Instagrammable” design elements that they hope will inspire employees to return to the office … if for no other reason than to take pictures of their brightly colored and inviting new decor.

Its “blueberry muffin” and “fruity” inspired conference rooms might go above and beyond the norm, other companies are implementing eye-catching features as part of a bid to convince remote workers to come back to the office at least part-time.

Drawing from inspiration

Although the root goal might be similar for companies going for this effect, experts say it is most effective when the design highlights a corporate identity or mission statement.

Jordan Goldstein of the architecture firm Gensler explained: “It’s taking cues from home, from hospitality, from Pinterest.”

The company, which has taken on redesigns at major companies from Marriott to LinkedIn, conducted a survey of about 14,000 workers worldwide and a whopping 40% said that their offices had been redesigned since the pandemic broke out.

Chris Agee November 27th, 2023

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