What Makes Workers Happy?

If given a choice, U.S. employees would work in a private office rather than a cubicle, according to a recent survey from Coldwell Banker Commercial Affiliates. The report focuses on various workplace design preferences, as well as general sentiments about commuting and other work-life topics. Nevertheless, most professionals wouldn't have a problem sharing their space with a peer, and a majority feel that senior leaders are entitled to that status-making corner office. Results also break down differences in sentiments among various generations. Millennials, for example, are willing to commute nearly twice as long (51 minutes) as Gen Xers (36 minutes) and Boomers (31 minutes) are. And 55 percent of Millennials are receptive to office settings with open floor plans, compared to just 41 percent of workers in the other two generations. "The office sector has entered a unique era of servicing three distinct generations," says Fred Schmidt, president and chief operating officer of Coldwell Banker Commercial Affiliates. "Where and how people work is changing. The shifting economy is a big part of that." The following results focus on employees overall, rather than categorizing different demographics. A total of 2,065 Americans took part in the research.