Post-secondary students in Canada are banking on hybrid office models when they step into their future workplace and elect this modality as “best for mental health,” closely followed by in-person attendance.

These findings from the Colliers Post Pandemic Student Workplace Preferences Report come from McGill University’s student-run consulting firm JED Consulting. Focus groups and a survey were used to pool student insight from more than 300 respondents aged 19 to 23. They primarily live in Ontario and Quebec and study STEM, business and economics, the arts and law.

Positive workplace experience hinges on flexibility

Among this cohort, the thought of being fully remote work didn’t fare as well. Fifty-eight per cent of students specifically noted they would reject a job offer if this modality was expected of them post-pandemic. Remote work was also cited as the most detrimental to students’ mental health due to a lack of social interaction, with soft skills and much harder to develop from afar.

Respondents are also concerned an off-site work setting is affecting their professional development opportunities and mentor relationships. As one STEM student noted, “the main advantage of in-person is the ability to build relationships with co-workers and potential mentors.”

Ideally, these future employees desire a three-day remote and two-day in-person set-up. Coming into the office is also dependent on whether colleagues will be there to interact with, and this knowledge figures highly into the value of a hybrid modality.

The specific types of meetings also favoured well into the choice of modality. As the report concluded, repetitive tasks and those that don’t rely on coworkers are expected to be completed from home, while more collaborative meetings, such as presentations and team building should be done in-person.

While the determinants of productivity vary depending on the nature of the work, being surrounded by co-workers who are all working diligently and also having a quiet space to focus were factors most positively impacting productivity.

Ideal amenities facilitate return to in-person

Sixty-four per cent of students mainly in the STEM sector are willing to return to the office four to five days per week if given their desired amenities. Respondents indicated that food-related amenities are top priority, with 76 per cent saying they would work in the office all week for free food. This was followed closely by bookable meeting rooms and collaborative workspaces, and comfortable office furniture.

On the other hand, lifestyle amenities like gyms and nap rooms were less important in order to keep work and life separate.

Assigned seating emerged as a significant motivator as an estimated 78 per cent of students said they are more likely to come into an office where everyone has an individual dedicated desk, with 67 per cent preferring assigned seating. Having a certain degree of individuality at the office makes them feel more comfortable.

Across majors, students emphasized the necessity of being in a high-quality work environment for wellness (78 per cent) and productivity (69 per cent). A distinction between office work and social life is also integral to achieving a work-life balance for this younger generation.

Preference for ideal job over ideal city

The majority of students would not move to their ideal city to find a job, rather the ideal job will determine the city they subsequently move to.

As the report emphasizes, students will apply to specific office locations if their dream job is available, although working in a city is a priority to be close to amenities. Corporate-minded students place higher value on large cities where reputable companies often operate from as it contributes to job status.

Meanwhile, 82 per cent of students would prefer to live downtown, preferably close to their office. The same goes for young professionals living in the suburbs who cite a penchant for a downtown office over a suburban one.

In-office attendance coincides with access to daily activities. Sixty-seven per cent of respondents are more willing to come in-person if office is located closer to daily services. If this was the case, commuting would be less of an issue.

However, commuting was identified as one of the major drawbacks to returning to an in-person schedule. The top choice would be 15 to 30 minutes for those commuting to a downtown office five days a week. Lower commute times and Transport-related amenities like parking surfaces are lowering commute times were pegged as key solutions for reducing the negative impact of getting to work.

Overall, when accepting a job offer, matters of comfort ranked lower compared to salary, the daily role and professional development opportunities. Benefits, work modalities and amenities were found as more essential for talent retention as opposed to acquisition and seem to be more relevant later on in the career cycle.

Newly graduating students hold the bargaining power, especially top talent exiting prestigious universities, the report concludes. “Job hopping is commonplace early on in a recent graduate’s career, creating a need for improved retention practices amongst employers.”

As companies figure out what the perfect future office looks like for them, flexibility is crucial for determining when employees are in the office, as well as ensuring the right mix of amenities: food, comfort and collaboration are found to be most valuable to students.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio