For Gen Z, the office is both a learning space as well as a workplace, one where culture is absorbed through proximity and observation. Being intentional with desk placement, open-plan design and varied zones for focus, collaboration and private mentoring can build belonging, confidence and faster progression, writes Paul Sherwin.
For Gen Z, the office is no longer just a place to complete tasks, it is a vital environment for learning, building relationships, and accelerating careers. Having spent much of their formative years in remote or digital settings, younger employees often enter workplaces seeking opportunities to connect, observe, and absorb the culture around them.
The most effective way for early-career talent to learn is slowly
The most effective way for early-career talent to learn is slowly, almost by osmosis: understanding how a company operates, its language, norms, and values require being present, watching, and interacting with colleagues on a regular basis.
The right place, at the right time
Intentional desk placement plays a crucial role in facilitating this type of development. Opportunities arise quickly for employees who are visible to managers and senior staff; being in the right position within the team’s spatial layout ensures you are seen, heard, and remembered.
Open seating plans that mix juniors and seniors foster a sense of inclusion and allow younger employees to feel integrated in the team culture. When traditional boundaries are removed, collaboration and knowledge sharing flourish naturally.
Open-plan for open communications
By encouraging spontaneous interaction through purposeful office design, workplaces can reduce hierarchical working and foster genuine relationships across generations and levels of seniority. Open-plan offices can become a great background for training and mentorship, where junior members can bond with senior leaders and grow into their role. They promote observational learning by creating spaces for informal moments, making it simple to tap someone on the shoulder or casually walk over to a desk when a younger team member needs some hands-on guidance.
Being able to simply walk around the space comfortably and see the senior you need support from can spark a sense of belonging. A younger employee may have previously been prevented by cubicles, walls or glass panels blocking that contact. Being physically and emotionally closer helps build team culture in a company.
Collaboration to handle challenges
Proximity is not only about visibility, it also encourages collaboration. The most effective office configurations provide quick-access spaces away from desks where teams can come together to discuss challenges, solve problems, and exchange ideas before returning to focused work. Seniors who want to support team members in navigating the start of the careers require an optimally designed office, one where they’re easily accessible to enquiring juniors.
Dedicated group meeting rooms also nurture a collaborative environment, where team building, problem-solving solving and group activities allow young starters somewhere to develop creativity and strategic thinking. Alternatively, breakout spaces can provide areas for private discussions where juniors can confide in their mentors and senior leaders, in a safe, enclosed space. This is where they can honestly discuss progress and any personal issues or feelings, building trust with their colleagues.
Where and how you work best
By positioning the right types of spaces near the teams that need them, offices offer employees the freedom to choose how they work: whether in quiet zones for deep focus, collaborative hubs for teamwork, or informal lounges for brainstorming and connecting with team members. This variety supports both productivity and professional development, giving Gen Z employees the tools to build confidence, trust and learn from those around them.
Technology can enhance these spaces, but sometimes it’s the absence of screens that makes the biggest impact. Tech-free zones create opportunities for human interaction, mentorship, and spontaneous problem-solving elements that are particularly important for younger employees who may have missed out on in-person learning during the pandemic.
The office is a far more adaptable place than it used to be. Employees choose what they need and how long they spend there, depending on the task at hand, the people they want to engage with, and the type of work they are doing. A well-designed office will draw people back, no matter their mood or priorities.
Sit down and thrive
Ultimately, desk placement and workspace design are powerful levers for shaping collaboration, confidence, and career progression. When designed intentionally, offices become more than a place to work – they become incubators for learning, networking, and growth, ensuring the next generation of professionals thrives both personally and professionally.
Paul Sherwin is Managing Director at Oktra
