Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter has sparked plenty of discussion in the world of business. His controversial and often inflammatory tweets have many people questioning whether this behavior is acceptable in an office environment, setting off fiery debates at the Swiss Bureau office. On the one hand, it is clear that Elon’s actions have gone against everything employee wellbeing stands for. Yet one can’t argue that this whole drama has led to an influx of new Twitter sign-ups- generating what looks to be positive results on the surface. This denotes that this philosophy works. However, not without slowly jeopardizing employees’ mental states in the process. Not only that but Gen Z mentality has also been challenged by this incident, leaving us interior designers who pour our whole heart and soul into creating the best environments for our clients and their team to ponder what it means for our industry. Let’s explore what we’ve learned from this situation. 

 

The Impact on Employee Wellbeing 

Employee wellbeing is all about creating a workplace where employees feel valued, respected, and safe. This Elon vs. Twitter incident has challenged the ethics of such practices by showing us that one powerful person’s words can enormously impact the entire organization and its employees. As a business, it’s safe to say we value high productivity and results, but at what cost? In the case of Elon’s leadership style, it can seriously lead to adverse effects such as decreased morale, job insecurity, and looming depression, and it’s important to note that this type of behavior is not something to be taken lightly. Employers should remain mindful of how their words and actions may affect their employees’ mental health and overall wellbeing. Balancing a business and the mindsets of an array of individual personalities is not an easy task, yet it’s the leaders who make an effort to effectively listen and work together to prioritize wellbeing that remain respected.

 

The Impact on Gen Z 

Gen Z mentality is all about being open-minded, embracing diversity, and having a positive outlook on life. This younger generation comes with a different outlook on work-life balance than previous generations did. In 2019, The New York Times wrote an article proclaiming, “young people are going to save us from the office,” noting millennials’ and Gen Z’s penchant for work-life balance and flexibility. It also proved that everyone was thinking of remote work opportunities even before COVID generously offered a slice of the “WFH Cake.” 

They want to work for companies with a remarkable culture, and if that’s not being demonstrated to them early on, they may go off to a competitor. This generation is guiding us into a new way of thinking, and as employers, we will need to really think about attracting and retaining this growing workforce. 

 

What This Means For Interior Designers          

Interior design professionals must take this incident as an opportunity to reflect on their own practices and consider how they might need to adjust them based on the current climate in business today. In particular, interior designers should strive to create a workplace environment that promotes a sense of inclusion and respect for all employees, regardless of who they are or where they come from. This includes ensuring that everyone feels comfortable speaking up without fear of retribution or punishment and avoiding any language or behavior that could be considered offensive or discriminatory in any way, shape, or form. 

97% of people in a Management Today survey saw their workplace as a symbol of whether or not they are valued by their employer. As designers, we want to create spaces that allow your team to work as they choose while healthily enabling productivity levels to thrive. 

 

Conclusion

While we all want a beautifully built atmosphere within our place of work, we understand that an office setting is still a place of business. As designers, we commit to creating spaces that allow your team to freely work as they choose, whether collectively or individually. Nevertheless, what we are seeing now is that no matter how beautifully built an office is, it may not be enough. However, with a detailed workplace strategy in place, we can help you create an impactful, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all to thrive. 

A company’s growth, morals, values, and respect come from within the company and its internal processes, starting from the top. 

So, what kind of leader do you want to be?