Workplace design and Gen Z retention: a social sustainability perspective in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The Sri Lankan corporate sector is currently grappling with a significant talent retention crisis, particularly among Generation Z (Gen Z) employees who increasingly prioritize the quality of their physical work environment over traditional incentives. While workplace design is frequently evaluated for space efficiency and productivity, its role as a driver of "Social Sustainability" specifically through human capital retention remains under-investigated in the built environment literature. In this context, Job Embeddedness, which explains why employees remain in organizations through their perceived fit with the job, social links within the workplace, and the sacrifices associated with leaving, provides a useful theoretical lens for understanding employee retention. This paper proposed a conceptual framework to addressing the relationship between Workplace Design and Turnover Intention mediated by Job Embeddedness (JE) in gen Z employees working in Sri Lanka. The paper combines the Generational Cohort Theory and the JE Theory to come up with such important design dimensions as flexibility design, biophilic integration, relaxation areas design and technological resilience which creates such psychological aspects of the organization as “fit”, “Link” and “sacrifice”. The expected outcomes are anticipated to equip facility managers, architects and corporate stakeholders with evidence-based design strategies to convert office spaces into social anchors. Finally, the study will play a role in the development of built environments that can enhance the social sustainability and long-term stability of Sri Lankan workforce within the unstable economic environment.