Genesis Property: 8 in 10 Gen Z employees say office work boosts career growth; manager relationships influence office attendance

The office has become increasingly important in the professional development of employees, and the relationship with managers is increasingly important in the decision to work more days from the office. More than 84% of Gen Z employees believe career progression is faster for those who work more from the office compared to those who work from home, according to a Genesis Property survey of 1,247 respondents nationwide. At the same time, nearly 82% of employees of all ages consider their relationship with managers important or very important when making the decision to work more days at the office.

Nearly 60% of Gen Z employees expect managers to effectively support both the professional and personal development of the people on their team. A similar percentage is found among those who want to work at least 3 days away from the office this year, according to the survey.

“More and more employees now understand that the office is essential for their development, both professionally and personally. Direct communication with the team allows them to learn faster, gain experience, and advance in their careers. In our office campuses, YUNITY Park and West Gate Business District, we constantly strive to create optimal conditions for interaction and socialization, and we are proud to offer our community a holistic ecosystem of spaces and amenities that support professional growth“, said Marcela Stancu, Community Director, Genesis Property.

During their time working fully or mostly from home, nearly half of Gen Z employees say they lost connection with their team, more than a third felt a lack of socialization with colleagues and managers, and more than a quarter say their career development was slowed by this way of working. Nearly 64% believe that it takes at least 3 days of office work per week to establish a good relationship with colleagues and managers.

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If they were to change jobs, more than 50% of respondents would want a close-knit team that collaborates in their day-to-day work, and more than 47% would want flexible working and autonomy in their work. When it comes to why they would change jobs in 2024, over 40% of Gen Z employees would like a hybrid work system, and almost 22% would like a closer-knit team whose members know how to work better with each other.

With the YUNITY Park project, Genesis Property has redefined the employee office experience. In the public space where more than 220 trees have been planted, and integrated into an urban forest, employees can work outdoors on the campus benches with access to 125 power outlets or hold meetings on the move on the 2km pedestrian-only space. They also enjoy dedicated social and cultural events in the 1,500-capacity outdoor amphitheatre. Phase II of the project was completed last year after an investment of 20 million euro, and this year YUNITY Park entered its final stage of development. Recently, Genesis Property announced the transition to fully renewable energy for all buildings in its portfolio, including YUNITY Park.

The Genesis Property survey analysed what Romanians think about returning to the office and was conducted in March 2024, nationwide, through the iVox platform, on a total sample of 1,247 internet users in Romania. Some 48% of participants are female and over 51% have a net income of more than 4,000 lei.