Intergenerational cohesion in the office: the Kytom method for bringing boomers, millennials and generation Z together. Assessment, costs, ROI and field cases.
"Boomers and Z in the same open space"
An employee disturbed every 11 minutes loses up to 28% of daily productivity. On a floor of 80 people mixing boomers and generation Z, the annual cost often exceeds 180,000 euros in non-productive time, not counting absences linked to acoustic stress.
Conflicts over open-space use weigh on daily life: 42% of employees say they suffer from them. The under-30s resign 2.3 times faster than the average when they dislike their work environment. The feeling of exclusion also affects seniors, who are less comfortable with hybrid codes.
The French Labour Code (R4214-1 and following) requires environmental conditions suited to all ages. An employer brand deemed unsuitable causes a 35% drop in qualified applications. Glassdoor reviews now explicitly call out poorly calibrated open spaces, with a direct impact on recruitment.
Kytom designs multigen floors calibrated by use zones, not by hierarchy or age. Our space planners map 6 to 8 activity types (focus, short video call, hybrid workshop, socialising, training, sensory retreat) and size each zone according to proven industry ratios. Furniture is chosen by distinct ergonomic families (adjustable Vitra seating, Herman Miller acoustic modules, high benches for Z stand-up work), so that each generation finds its preferred posture. Our 11 agencies roll out these layouts over an average of 850 m² and 12 weeks, with 1200+ clients supported since 2006. Cohesion is born from the choice offered, never from the imposed standard.
Occupancy audit over 3 weeks with IoT sensors and cross interviews by age group. Deliverable: friction mapping, usage rate by zone, segmented verbatims boomer / X / Y / Z. A 25-page report aligns HR and workplace directors on the 4 priority irritants to address.
Programming workshop with an intergenerational panel of 12 employees. Definition of target ratios (40% focus, 25% collaboration, 20% video call, 15% socialising) and budget per m². Deliverable: functional programme signed by management and staff representation.
2D plans, immersive 3D views and furniture boards validated over 4 iterations. Acoustic tests modelled according to the standard applicable to workspaces. Selection of signature furniture (Vitra, Knoll) and certified acoustic solutions. Deliverable: complete tender package and weekly rollout schedule.
Works on an occupied or vacant site, managed by a dedicated Kytom project manager. Post-delivery measurement at 30, 60 and 90 days across 6 indicators (acoustics, satisfaction, usage, internal NPS). Deliverable: performance report and furniture adjustment plan over 12 months.
"Our seniors wanted quiet, our work-study trainees wanted to move around. Kytom designed four distinct atmospheres on the same floor, and tensions disappeared within six weeks."
No. 78% of employees reject age-based segregation. The right multigen approach is to offer 4 to 6 distinct atmospheres that everyone chooses according to their task, never according to their date of birth.
The under-28s use informal seating and stand-up positions 3 times more than boomers. Providing 15 to 20% alternative workstations (high benches, poufs, video call modules) is enough to cover their real uses.
We recommend 1 phone booth per 12 to 15 workstations, complemented by "focus" zones kept below 40 dB(A). On 850 m², this generally amounts to 5 to 7 acoustic booths.
Between 950,000 and 1.6 million euros excl. VAT depending on the level of services, the furniture chosen (Vitra, Herman Miller) and the condition of the building. A free Kytom assessment refines the range in 3 weeks.
Four key KPIs: turnover by age group, internal NPS, occupancy rate by zone and acoustic complaints. We measure them at 30, 60 and 90 days. A 15-point gap in NPS validates the effectiveness of the new layout.
Yes. Kytom phases the works in clusters of 20 to 30 workstations, in the evening or at weekends if necessary. Across 1200+ projects since 2006, 70% were delivered on occupied sites with no measured loss of activity.