A Randstad workplace survey describes a shift in what young Indian professionals expect from employers. Office design, free snacks and recreational perks matter less than flexible hours, work-life balance, learning and control over time.
The cited figures put better salary first for 37 per cent, flexible working hours first for 25 per cent and work-life balance first for 22 per cent. Only 2 per cent gave priority to office perks such as hobby allowances or extra leave.
Gen Z is estimated to represent about a quarter of India’s workforce and could approach 47 per cent by 2035. The preferences of this group will therefore influence recruitment, workplace design and retention.
The report also points to multiple income sources: 43 per cent of Indian Gen Z professionals said they wanted a side business alongside full-time employment. Hybrid and remote work make that ambition more feasible, but employers still need clear rules around time, data and conflicts of interest.
The message for companies is practical: a modern workplace is defined by trust, growth and flexibility, not only by its furniture.