Developing effective workplaces, what does that mean as we approach 2023? Is it to be flexible? We’ve heard that a lot and it’s no longer a differentiating factor. Is it to be accommodating? Mmm…in an era of empathy, that should be a no-brainer, and not a new strategy. Did you know that more than 70% of employees say that they need more than company expectations to go back to the office?1 What we are talking about here is changing the way we look at work: from obligation to destination of choice. Let’s deep-dive into the subject together.
We have read a lot recently about quiet quitting. The hashtag has been creating a major buzz on the market. To put it simply, it’s the reverse behaviour of going above and beyond. It’s to do your job, during your work schedule, as per expectations, nothing more. Some will say that that’s exactly what work is supposed to be, no? Others will be outraged, as they have worked 70 hours a week to get where they are and can’t imagine it being any other way. Now, where do you stand on this? I’m curious…
Effective workplaces are based on 3 major pillars: place, people, and perception.
Place. More than half of all workers have been asked to work from home in the past three years. This new way of working has created a new dynamic in the home, has changed workers’ habits, and forced them to interact differently. After a few weeks of this new work environment, the awkwardness usually passes and normality sets in; the couch becomes a comfy place to work, cookies are always nearby, and music can be played as loud as you want. Thus, a new work expectation is born. Some people can’t work from home, and these people watch as their spouses and friends ‘’live the life.’’ While these workers’ daily surroundings have not changed, their dissatisfaction has definitely grown. This is where facility managers come in, rethinking the environment to create a softer transition from home to work. How can you integrate light in every corner, nest a couch in a lost space for brainstorming sessions or meetings, transform an office into a reading nook for training? The main reason why employees want to reintegrate buildings is interaction, proximity to others, collaboration. This leads to my second P.
People. We are interesting creatures, full of contradictions. For an employer, this means being able to address as many angles and points of view as possible to create and nurture engagement, all while not wasting money or energy on useless programs or initiatives. To do so, you need to survey your staff. What do they want this year? What is their new main pain point? Can you address it? Yes, this is now a yearly review. It means that your benefits need to be flexible, modern, and configurable. Your provider has to offer a flexible approach and show that they really know all audiences. Great benefits vary incredibly by age and region. Just as space should support people’s needs, people want to interact with their workspace. They want to bond with colleagues, have time to discuss, bounce ideas off of one another, exchange on a presentation, sketch, eat, get inspired. Otherwise, why bother coming to the office? And now, our last P.
Perception. Effective workplaces transcend physical locations. They can be used to bring people together, and certainly add a significant difference; our last employee experience research described it as one of the key elements in employee satisfaction. Your perception being your reality, the best ally an employer has is communication. Transparent communication to bring employees’ view of the world as close to yours as possible, based on facts and truth. If explained, employees will understand why a great project can’t take off, they will be tolerant of delays in new employee programs, they will even defend your position if you are clear and honest. The past three years have forced us to experiment with technology as never before, from an internal communication standpoint. It’s time we bring back this genuine feeling of sharing information as a collective group, linked together. Use technology, yes, but also use videos, live broadcasts with Q&As, avoid canned questions. Invite people to chat and discuss (on the lovely new reclining chairs in the office), one topic at a time. Improving the employee experience. Aligning vision and goals. Understanding each other, closer.
Place. People. Perception. Your three building blocks to act on efficiency in 2023.
Attend our ““Creating a Truly Effective Workplace” panel hosted by Kareen Emery to leanr more about the subject: https://worktechevents.com/events/worktech22-toronto/
Source: https://hbr.org/2022/09/to-get-people-back-in-the-office-make-it-social
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