The Workplace of The Future: Millennials and Gen Zs Call for Social Interaction, Travel Perks, Flexible Working Hours and Purpose‑Driven Work across Europe, Middle East & Africa

• Post pandemic, 84% of survey respondents said it was important to work for a company with purpose
• 84% said social interactions were important to them in the workplace
• 74% confirmed that strong policies on social and environmental issues in the workplace were important factors for choosing a job
• The most desirable new skills that Millennials and Gen Zs wish to learn are a new language (46%), cooking (27%) and coding (24%)
• 68% of respondents favour the ability to travel with work
• More than half (54%) of respondents said their ideal role would feature flexible hours

Millennials and Gen Zs across Europe, Middle East, and Africa have revealed what makes the perfect job in a post-pandemic workplace, with flexible working arrangements, travel perks, the opportunity to contribute to purposeful work, social interaction and strong mental health and wellbeing programmes ranked as some of the most important factors. The findings were disclosed in a new survey of 13,000 Millennials (26–41-year-olds) and Gen Zs (18-25) from 12 countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa, commissioned by Hilton (NYSE: HLT).

While the perfect job should include the ability to meet new people, sample different roles and offer a good work-life balance, organisations with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion in the workplace were important to a resounding 77% of those aged 18-41.

The survey also revealed that having a good work-life balance was a key reason for 35% of Millennials and Gen Zs to stay in their current roles. Human connection is proving more important than ever in the post-pandemic world of work, with 84% valuing social interaction. One in 10 said that they have considered leaving their roles due to a lack of social connections in their workplace. Furthermore, an environment that supports mental resilience was important for 84% of respondents, with almost one in five (19%) 18-41-year-olds considering changing roles over concerns for their mental health and wellbeing.

Identifying a generational divide, 33% of Gen Zs have changed jobs in the past 12 months, compared to 24% of Millennials. The differences between both generations are further highlighted in what workers value most – 72% of Gen Zs said travelling for work would be important in their perfect job, compared with 64% of Millennials, while 58% of Millennials said they prioritise flexibility, compared with 48% of Gen Zs. Both generations prioritised companies with strong social and environmental policies, with 77% stating this would be an important aspect of their job.

In addition, 43% of Millennials and Gen Zs have considered a career in hospitality over the past year; ranking the ability to learn new skills (28%), meet new people from different backgrounds (28%), work in a varied role (23%), the opportunity to travel (22%); and the opportunity to work in a social environment (24%) as the most attractive features. 

Simon Vincent, executive vice president and president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton, said, “Our research shows that the pandemic has shifted how we think about work, and I am proud that Hilton has continued to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of its teams. We lead with culture and are fiercely committed to creating a truly diverse and meaningful work environment where individuals are empowered with the tools, technology, and culture to unleash their full potential.”

“We know that when we invest in our team members, our guests and communities also benefit. It’s why we’re so committed to providing industry-leading benefits, from life-changing travel opportunities, to ensuring a sense of belonging for every team member. This is how we make Hilton a great place to work, and we are excited to offer a variety of careers from apprentice chef and bartender positions, to event planners and housekeepers, across more than 600 hotels within Europe, Middle East, and Africa.”

Hilton has hotels in 122 countries and territories around the world and has a strong commitment to creating a diverse workplace culture through a number of community partnerships, including with Clean the World, Farsi Prossimo, Aurora Foxes, Sternthalerhof, Das Hunger Projekt, myAbility and Springboard. It’s this focus on diversity, equity and inclusion which sees Hilton consistently recognised as providing an award-winning workplace culture across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

In 2022, Hilton ranked as the #1 best workplace in Ireland, Austria and Turkey, while placing within the top 10 Best Workplaces in 10 markets across Europe, Middle East and Africa, including the UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

To support its team members in prioritising their physical and mental wellbeing, Hilton has launched a Thrive@Hilton campaign, which includes a website loaded with mental health and wellness resources, an app for team members, and coaching for managers and leaders to help them and their teams achieve both personal and professional goals.

For more information about a career at Hilton, visit jobs.hilton.com.

Click the following links to view research findings specifically for the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Poland, Austria, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Methodology

OnePoll surveyed 13,000 respondents across the UK, France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Morocco, Turkey, the UAE and KSA from 28th April 2022 – 16^th May 2022. The survey was conducted online using panel members who are credited to participate in surveys. Respondents aged 18-41 were targeted using screening questions and profile data, in order to ensure the correct demographic was achieved.