Jay Lee, senior director of Project and Development Services at Cushman & Wakefield, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the firm's office in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield

Global companies like Amazon, Apple and Google have turned their headquarters into attractions themselves, conveying their company philosophy and message to both employees and tourists.

The recognition of the importance of creative workplaces was relatively low in Korea, but in recent years, companies' interest in optimizing spaces has been growing, leading to increasing demand for reconfiguring the offices, according to Jay Lee, senior director of Project and Development Services at Cushman & Wakefield in Seoul.

During an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday, Lee said the growing interest can be understood as a move to retain young and talented employees and boost the productivity of businesses.

“I think the biggest change comes from generational shifts. While those born in the 1970s and 1980s have managed to maintain traditional ways of working, the mindset of those born in the 1990s and later is entirely different,” said Lee, in charge of space planning services at the global real estate services firm.

“These younger generations, having been born and growing up in the digital age, communicate and think in fundamentally different ways. As a result, expecting them to work productively using traditional methods no longer yields the same results. This realization has led companies to rethink work environments as a means of boosting productivity.”

Previously, the focus was primarily on the company itself, but now, resources that generate content have become increasingly crucial. As a result, attracting and retaining top talent has become more challenging. In this respect, Lee said, how much a company supports individual growth is highly valued in today's era, and this can lead to success.

A company's workplace planned by Cushman & Wakefield / Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield

He highlighted that space planning is not to just make the space look aesthetically pleasing, but to optimize the space to boost the company's profitability.

“So, we focus more on practical aspects rather than just design,” he said.

“We analyze how employees are currently working and then optimize the space according to those patterns in order to provide an environment where employees can have the best possible experience and work most effectively.”

Lee noted that by optimizing workspace efficiency and reducing leased area, there is more room for companies to invest in other areas.

The growing demand for workspace optimization is reflected in the increased services provided by Lee's team.

When it first launched space planning services in 2019, the demand was relatively low, but the number of projects his team handles now ranges from 40 to 50 annually, with the size of the team having grown from a single-digit figure to around 20.

The companies Lee has worked with include major global firms like Microsoft, Google, Morgan Stanley and HSBC that opened their offices in Korea, as well as popular domestic brands such as Musinsa and HYBE.

Lee said the biggest difference from the past in space planning is that it has shifted to respecting individual diversity and providing more choices.

“In the past, employees had fixed desks with no choices, which did not allow for the expression of individual diversity. But today, individual choice has become extremely important,” he said.

“Some people concentrate better in quiet environments, while others are more focused with a bit of background noise. The key is to allow individuals to choose the work environment that best supports their productivity and personal effectiveness.”

He cited Cushman & Wakefield's June survey, which showed that 71 percent and 67 percent of Generation Z and Millennials employees agreed that their work efficiency improved when they were given freedom to choose work location.

A company's lounge planned by Cushman & Wakefield / Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield

Lee stressed, however, that it does not mean that a flexible seating arrangement is necessary for all companies, as work patterns and styles vary.

“For example, one of our clients was a game company where employees spent approximately 77 percent of their entire working hours at their desks. People who spend such long hours at their desks would not necessarily see an increase in productivity with a flexible work location system,” he said.

Lee also underscored the importance of adding “wow points,” meaning eye-catching spaces, to offices, considering the characteristics of MZ Generation employees who prefer to take photos and share them with others on social media platforms such as Instagram.

In this context, Lee said the interior design of workspaces has a significant impact on the company's recruitment of talented individuals.

“Companies like Amazon, Apple and Google emphasize the importance of the experience of people using their offices. To prioritize experience, the space needs to be rich in content. However, it is very difficult to incorporate such content using traditional work environments,” he said.

“Offering optimized workplaces indirectly conveys a message to employees, encouraging them to create something.” He noted that this can be much more effective than putting up posters on office walls calling for employees to work proactively.