Quentin Périnel,
journalist and columnist for Le Figaro
How would you describe this "generation Y", which is ultimately quite benevolent towards its elders?
"Generation Y is a great help to their elders! We saw this very clearly when it came to all the technological aspects of the lock-in. They have mastered the codes and teleworking tools perfectly, and act as a relay with the older generation. Before the lock-up, you could stay away from digital tools and work the old-fashioned way. Today, that's no longer possible. During this period of transition, "generation Y" naturally lent a hand. Today, all the generational profiles in the company have mastered remote working tools: everyone has had to learn! In terms of agility and remote working, we've come a long way in the last ten years.
What is its relationship with the hierarchy?
"The younger generation is by no means against hierarchy, but it does hate "petty bosses", who embody a surface authority that cannot always be explained... The new generation of employees hates doing things without explanations and not being involved in the decision-making process... The new generation cannot stand to be left in the lurch, in a fallow open space! They need movement, enthusiasm and meaning... This does not mean that they are against management and the figure of the boss: on the contrary, they are happy to be able to count on a more senior mentor who trusts them, guides them, gives them freedom and helps them to flourish. On the spot and at a distance!
How did they feel about returning to the office?
"With Microsoft Teams or any other collaborative tool, everything is like clockwork. Working remotely is ultimately very strict... perhaps, in some cases, stricter than working face-to-face! It's back to old-fashioned management... In fact, it's easy to see that during confinement, many people worked even longer hours than usual, with even more meetings, not always useful ones! It's understandable: the boundary between work and personal life has shrunk dramatically. The lack of physical offices has been hard on the younger generation, who often live in small flats or have young children... So when the "back to the office" bell rang, there was a surge of happiness that was all the greater when it came time to return to work at head office. Unfortunately, the drastic health measures put a stop to that momentum, and we haven't (yet) been able to get back to the 'old' office."
Tomorrow, how can offices appeal to the younger generation?
"What's already certain is that the expression "going to work" will never have the same meaning again... Experience has shown that you can work anywhere. Today, the office is Paris. And that goes for all the big cities. In my view, the office of the future will be a 'showroom' of variable size, embodying the values and activities of the company, its battles... A beautiful showcase in its own image, where people don't come exclusively to work: they come to attend events, conferences, to network, to meet people... This is very important for this young generation, who are very concerned about the meaning of their work and the company's position in society. From a more practical point of view, I think that we underestimate the comfort of the equipment that employers provide for their employees: good quality equipment, a seat that doesn't hurt your back, dual screens... so many details that you can't find at home, in most cases!
