Bucharest no longer commutes to the office – at least, not the way it used to.
As Millennials (25–40 years old) and Gen Z (18–25 years old) take over the workforce, the traditional office — with harsh lighting, grey furniture and badge scanners — starts to feel like a relic. The new generation wants more: flexibility, identity, freedom of movement, and paradoxically, real connection.

The end of the office as we know it?

Not entirely. But yes, the end of the office as default. A 2023 study by Genesis Property found that 69% of young employees believe the traditional office no longer meets their needs, and 62% said they would quit a well-paid job if it meant escaping a rigid work model.

For Millennials and Gen Z, the office is no longer where you work — it's how you work.

What do they really want?

Radical flexibility - Not just work-from-home — work-from-anywhere. A café, a park, a co-working space, sometimes at home, sometimes at HQ. Results matter more than presence.

Inspiring spaces - Design matters. Natural light, plants, warm textures, ergonomic furniture, quiet zones. It’s not a luxury, it’s performance psychology.

A sense of purpose and community - The ideal office is a space where people connect with like-minded individuals, not just colleagues. Events, interest clubs, shared lounges — all build a living company culture.

Real work-life balance - Gen Z doesn’t want an office that “feels like home.” They want to be free to leave home whenever they want.

How local businesses in Bucharest are adapting

The hybrid model has become the standard - Large companies like UiPath, Bitdefender or ING Bank have completely redesigned their work policies. Employees often work from the office 2–3 days per week, and remotely the rest.

Co-working spaces are booming - Bucharest has seen an explosion of co-working options – from big names like Commons, Mindspace, Hotspot and Nod Makerspace, to boutique hybrid spaces like Materia, blending art, coffee, and office vibes.

Rebranding the office as an “experience” - Take YUNITY Park (by Genesis Property) – an urban campus with restaurants, gyms, green spaces, libraries, even podcast studios. The office becomes a mental wellness zone, not a productivity prison.

Smart small companies are innovating too - Local startups in tech, design or comms prefer short-term rentals in flexible workspaces. A branding studio might work a month at Nod, the next at Beans&Dots, then go fully remote. Freedom becomes a competitive edge.

Real challenges for employers

• How do you maintain company culture without daily physical presence?
• How do you measure performance based on results, not hours?
• How do you support mental health in a fragmented work environment?

Some companies are already investing in: coaching and therapy sessions for staff, offsite creative workshops and quarterly meetups with a focus on bonding, not KPIs.

In conclusion, no, the office isn’t dying. But it is being reinvented.
Millennials and Gen Z don’t want luxury — they want autonomy. They don’t care about ping-pong tables — they want spaces that respect their complexity.

Bucharest-based companies that want to stay relevant must understand this: the workspace is no longer about control — it’s about trust. And trust is the new currency of productivity.