HR’s key role in enlightened office design
HR’s key role in enlightened office design
HR magazine and Landid’s roundtable on the workspace of tomorrow explored how HR can positively influence facilities management decisions
HR has a key role in moving workspace design into ‘an age of enlightenment’, an HR magazine roundtable on ‘tomorrow’s workspace’ agreed.
The event, supported by property developer Landid, explored the evolution of the office over recent years and how it will need to evolve in future according to the demands of employees of different demographics, and in particular in line with a rise in remote and flexible working.
The roundtable panel agreed the workplace had undergone a significant design revolution over recent years. “I think there’s been a real enlightenment in organisations,” said Steve Sherwood, director of operations and infrastructure at PwC. “Before the office was somewhere that people went to work and it needed to function, it needed to do its job. I’ve worked in organisations where it was almost a badge of honour to have very poor workspaces because it was ‘we’re about customers’. It doesn’t matter that the furniture doesn’t match; we’re out there doing it.
“Now there’s a real understanding that the workplace has more significance; it is about recruitment, it is about brand and retention…”
It’s crucial that today’s office conveys the company’s brand and values, the panel agreed. This is particularly important in retail, said Usha Kakaria-Cayaux, regional vice president of HR UK & Ireland at The Estée Lauder Companies UK. “In retail if you look that great on the outside you have to look great on the inside,” she said. “You should feel that sense of brand and sense of identity and community.”
HR must also play a crucial role in conversations around FM (facilities management) to ensure workspaces are geared around wellbeing, said Chris Hiatt, director of Landid. “There’s now some really good hard evidence in terms of productivity, general health, chronic illnesses – all the things we should be worrying about,” he said. “In our buildings we have taller floor to ceiling height… and there’s phenomenal impact from just having greenery in buildings, which we don’t [as a business community] have enough of.”
The debate also explored the rise of remote working and the need for HR to consider the wellbeing of those working remotely, and the importance of still enticing staff into central offices.
“If you have people who decide ‘I’m not coming into the office’, commercially it creates a bit of a problem,” said Lisa Hillier, chief people officer at Just Eat. “Being able to talk to people face to face is important. So there’s always two or three days a week where we expect teams to be in the same building in order to drive efficiency and get the best possible experience for our customers.”
Regarding the attraction for many staff of still coming into an office, Lesley Swarbrick, HR director at Time Inc, said: “I remember an employee [at a previous company] saying to me he was really struggling because he had no boundary to stop him working at home. He found it really hard; his sleep patterns were affected.”
Organisations must therefore think carefully about where they locate offices said group HR director at Advanced Alex Arundale. Then they can deliver the best of both worlds: a sociable, collaborative hub that doesn’t entail long, costly commutes. “When we ran our employee survey a lot of what people wanted from the building in terms of wellness was about location,” she said. “They wanted to get to work reasonably quickly. When leaving the office they wanted to be able to get to their places of social interaction or the gym easily.”
“Organisations must be brave and prepared to say ‘we’ve been around 150 years, we used to work like this but it’s 2017 now [so] how should we be working?’” said Sherwood regarding the need for continual reassessment and change in FM. “That’s not being a fashion victim, that’s being open-minded and smart.”
An article written by J. Ropper published on HRMagazine
Source
Related Blogs
-
Mar 17, 2023Tips To Engage And…
The role of a Human Resources (HR) professional can vary depending on the organization and the specific job title. From identifying the most suitable of..
-
Feb 3, 2023How HR Professionals Can…
Some could easily argue that the human resources (HR) department is not a "revenue-generating" service. We don't create new products, interface with the traditional customer daily, or..
-
Dec 16, 2022Five Wounds That Hold…
One silver lining of the Covid-19 pandemic has been the surge in creative ways that organizations found to survive and succeed under dire circumstances. But..
-
Dec 2, 2022Why Startup Companies Need…
Developing an active HR function in your business show that you value your employees and their business in your enterprise Growing startups and small and..
-
Nov 4, 2022Your Company’s Greatest Investment…
In this competitive market, companies are struggling to not only retain but also grow their talent pools as they expand. Attractive salaries are important, but..
-
Oct 27, 202210 Tips to Motivate…
Nothing is better for the bottom line than employees who are motivated to work for psychic benefits. Are you looking for ways to motivate your..
-
Sep 9, 2022How To Motivate People…
As a startup founder, you’d usually spend a large part of your time trying to get various people to do new things. On one side,..
-
Sep 2, 2022Don’t Give Up On…
“Why do we keep following the process if it doesn’t work?” You’ve probably heard something to the effect of this before or have even said..
-
Jun 24, 2022How to Know It’s…
HR activities at startups are often reactive in nature instead of proactive. That leaves gaps in the system. When starting their businesses, most entrepreneurs tend..
-
May 27, 2022When a Leader Is…
Not long ago, I received a call from an HR manager at a large corporation seeking an executive coach for one of their senior leaders...
-
Feb 25, 2022Go Ahead, Reveal Your…
Talking about office disasters is key to better productivity and healthy competition. We all have our share of office-related horror stories. From the incorrect market..
-
Jan 21, 2022Can HR People Have…
A reader asks: I recently got a new job in HR at a small (under 100 people) company. This is my first job in the HR..
-
Nov 19, 2021What Super Productive People…
In 2018, I came across a meme that was going viral on the Internet. It read, “You have the same number of hours in the day..
-
Nov 12, 2021How to Create a…
Creating a learning culture in the workplace is all about fostering an environment that empoweres people to pursue knowledge. This is important for individual evolution,..
-
Nov 5, 20215 Generations in the…
When the world seems more divided than ever, uniting generations within the workplace can create an advantage for your business. Every night, I turn on..
-
Oct 22, 2021What To Do When…
Let’s face it: Failing sucks. But lately, I seem to be doing it more than usual. Okay, that’s dramatic. The truth is that I’m making..
-
Sep 3, 2021How To Lead Meetings…
It is crucial to tap into the different personality traits in your workplace to cultivate a supportive, inclusive atmosphere. There are extensive studies in personality..
-
Jun 4, 2021HR Transformation: Why Diversity,…
If there’s one thing the pandemic has brought into clear focus, it’s what each of us considers important—especially at work. Diversity, equity and inclusion, and..
-
May 14, 2021How To Manage Anxiety…
If you’re anything like me, you’ve found yourself in a situation like this a few times over the last year. A friend invites you to..
-
Apr 9, 2021Five Things Your Boss…
Your boss may be extremely clear in spelling out your job expectations, setting goals, adding to your do-list and measuring your performance, but she may..
-
Apr 2, 2021How To Create An…
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several changes in the workplace and future work behavior. With several countries going into lockdowns, every sector was required to..
-
Feb 26, 2021Why Every Organization Today…
It’s time all organizations make what could be the most strategic decision in decades regarding organizational structure: Move the learning and talent development functions out..
-
Feb 12, 2021How to Collaborate in…
How to adopt the “us versus the problem” rather than a “you versus me” mind-set. Your first step in resolving a conflict should be to..
-
Dec 18, 2020How to Give Creativity…
Today’s organizations spend considerable time and energy selecting and recruiting creative talent. And rightly so. Creative employees help their organizations survive and remain relevant in..
-
Dec 11, 202014 Key Steps To…
As a member of a team, you have a responsibility to help your co-workers, just as you’d expect them to offer assistance when you need..
-
Nov 27, 2020Your Job Satisfaction May…
As adults, we spend the majority of our waking hours at work. That means our experience at work determines a great deal of our happiness,..
-
Oct 23, 2020Your Guide to your…
You walk through the revolving door of the lobby toward the elevator, soaking in your surroundings—there’s not a familiar face in the building. You straighten..
-
Jul 3, 2020Consistency Is the One…
Consistency Is the One Rule in Building a Great Company Culture Company culture is a topic that’s been often explored by entrepreneurs and business analysts, but..
-
Jun 12, 2020Why Empathy Is One…
Why Empathy Is One of the Most Overlooked Skills in Business It was a sunny day in April. The air was crisp and the walk..
-
Jun 5, 2020How The COVID-19 Crisis…
How The COVID-19 Crisis Has Made HR One Of The Most Important Jobs Today n a matter of only a few months, the world as..
-
Feb 28, 2020Your Company Might Offer…
Your Company Might Offer High Salaries, But Does It Have Soul? It’s a well-established stereotype that large-scale companies are about as approachable as a concrete..
-
Feb 21, 2020Benefits of Stay Interviews
Retain More Employees With Stay Interviews Employees are quitting in droves, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, backed up by hard data from..
-
Jan 17, 2020Meeting Don’ts
8 Things You Should Not Do In Meetings Meetings are perhaps the most powerful personal branding tool there is—when you master them. They also make..
-
Nov 22, 2019Spend your day wisely
How To Spend Your Working Day Wisely And Actually Get Things Done Time doesn’t discriminate. The CEO of a Fortune 500 company with an overloaded..
-
Oct 25, 2019Super power at Work
What Is Your Super Power At Work? Do you know that every person who works for you has a super power? Well, they do. Superman..
-
Sep 27, 2019The Interview Question
The Interview Question You Need To Answer Right: ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ “I bombed the interview.” This was a message I got from a brand..
-
Sep 20, 2019Belonging At Work
Belonging At Work Is Essential—Here Are 4 Ways To Foster It In the complex study of human psychology, one finding is remarkably consistent: our well-being..
-
Aug 23, 2019Great First Impression
How To Make A Great First Impression At Your New Job You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make it count...
-
Aug 16, 2019Purpose And Values
How To Connect With Your Company's Purpose And Values Some employees feel fully inspired by their company's mission, vision and values. But they don’t just mindlessly glug the Kool-Aid—they connect on a deep,..
-
Jul 5, 2019Overloaded And Overwhelmed?
Overloaded And Overwhelmed? Four Things You Can Control When Your Workload Is Out Of Control Our research indicates a terrifying 43% of knowledge workers do..
-
Jun 7, 2019Five Things Employees Want
The Five Things Employees Really Want I haven't managed to catch all the episodes of Undercover Boss this season, but there was one I knew..
-
May 31, 2019Thrive At Work
6 Steps To Unleash Your Inner Polymath And Thrive At Work In a previous article I explored some of the virtues of striving for a..
-
May 24, 2019Successful and Happy
The One Daily Action That Will Make You More Successful And Happier At Work In our fast-paced world where we have more to do than..
-
May 3, 2019Great Employees
What It Takes To Be A Great Employee: The Parable Of The Oranges Being a great employee pays off with better positions, higher pay, and..
-
Apr 25, 2019Your first Job
10 Essential Strategies To Succeed In Your First Job Congratulations, graduate! After the exhausting and stressful process of finishing school, searching for and landing your..
-
Apr 19, 2019Starting a New Job?
When You Start a New Job, Pay Attention to These 5 Aspects of Company Culture When you join an organization, you have a short window..
-
Apr 12, 2019How To Escape Procrastination
How To Escape The Procrastination Doom Loop When you imagine a highly productive person, you likely think of someone who focuses effortlessly on the job..
-
Apr 5, 2019Exceptional Employees
8 Clues That a Candidate Will be an Exceptional Employee Over the past 40 years, I have reviewed at least 30,000 resumes and LinkedIn profiles..
-
Mar 22, 2019Increase Employee Retention
4 Smart Ways to Increase Employee Retention Keeping your employees once you have them is a thorny problem in the staffing services industry. The difficulty..
-
Mar 15, 2019Things Happen!
Here's How To Recover From A Career Setback Whether you’ve botched an interview question, cancelled an important meeting last-minute or missed a typo in an..
-
Feb 15, 2019Workplace Diversity
In an 8-Minute Animated Film, Pixar Just Captured Why Companies Still Struggle With Workplace Diversity Yes, it's a movie about a pink ball of yarn--but..
-
Jan 25, 2019Effective Job Interview
How to conduct an effective job interview As the employment market improves and candidates have more options, hiring the right person for the job has..
-
Dec 14, 2018Stay Focused Through the…
14 Ways to Stay Focused at Work Through the Holidays We’re in the midst of the holiday season, and as you try to juggle parties,..
-
Dec 7, 2018Great Employees Leave Great…
Why Great Employees Leave “Great Cultures” “We have a great culture.” We have all heard it. We have all said it. But what does that..
-
Nov 30, 2018On-the-Job Training
Young Workers No Longer Get the On-the-Job Training They Need -- So They're Finding It Elsewhere With companies training people less, the most valuable path..
-
Nov 23, 2018Help Your New Hires…
3 Ways You Can Help Your New Hires to Succeed Filling a vacant position is expensive, and unless you do these three things, it's liable..
-
Nov 15, 2018A Successful Meeting
Three Ways To Prevent Someone From Stealing Your Spotlight In A Meeting We've all been there at one point or another. You're in a meeting,..
-
Nov 2, 2018When should managers overlook…
Why managers should overlook results in these situations By focusing on culture and people first, you can set your team up for success in the..
-
Oct 12, 2018Integrators VS Segmentors
Are your employees integrators or segmentors? An organization has both integrators and segmentors. Being a segmentor is a tough ask. If you choose to be..
-
Oct 5, 2018Help Your Team Members…
Help Your Team Members Succeed (Especially When They're Tempted to Leave) Help that valued employee being lured by another opportunity think through what they are..
-
Sep 28, 2018Avoid Toxic Team Members
Are You Hiring a 'Team' Player -- or Someone Just Looking out for No. 1? How can leaders make sure they're not unwittingly inviting a..
-
Sep 21, 2018What Motivates You to…
What Motivates You to Work? That paycheck will never be big enough if it's the only reason you're going to work. Each of us respond..
-
Aug 10, 2018Avoid Summer Slump
How To Improve Productivity For Yourself And Your Team This Summer July and August are historically bad months for productivity. It might be the warm..
-
Aug 3, 2018Emotional Intelligence at Workplace
How To Develop More Emotionally Intelligent Employees In the quest to develop leaders who will foster a culture of equity and inclusion in the workplace,..
-
Jul 20, 2018Rewarding Employees Wisely
5 Ways to Reward Employees When Raises Aren't an Option Many workers are doing double duty these days because employers either can’t afford to hire..
-
Jun 8, 2018Back On Track
How to get back on track when you’re having an unproductive day A rocky start shouldn’t dictate your entire workday. Do these things to reverse..
-
Jun 1, 2018Value of Office Communication
Why Office Communication is Highly Valued and Often Ignored A huge number of employees don't trust their bosses, and it's not hard to figure out..
-
May 25, 2018Impacts of High Turnover
The Negative Impacts of a High Turnover Rate High turnover rates can negatively affect a company and its employees in many ways. With the constant..
-
May 11, 2018Employee Onboarding Strategies
Seven New Onboarding Strategies You'll See This Year According to a study from Equifax, more than half of all employees who left their job in..
-
Apr 5, 2018Inclusion in the Workplace
Inclusion Doesn’t Mean Including Everything and Everyone Inclusiveness is not about thought policing. It’s also not about turning everyone into a liberal. It’s a normal..
-
Mar 23, 2018Employees Feel and Act…
7 Ways to Incent Employees to Feel and Act as Owners Building accountability into your business culture is a leadership process. It can't be driven..
-
Mar 16, 2018Don’t Shuffle People Into…
Don't Shuffle People Into the Wrong Job Just Because They're Already on the Payroll You grow your company by putting proven performers where you need..
-
Feb 26, 2018Minimise Workplace Negativity
Tips for Minimizing Workplace Negativity To Deal with Negativity in the Workplace, Use These 9 Tips Nothing affects employee morale more insidiously than persistent workplace..
-
Feb 9, 2018The future Workspace
Why a Coffee Shop Will Probably Be Your Workspace Within 10 Years As the gig economy grows, there are both social and scientific reasons why..
-
Jan 19, 2018First Hour, Day, Week,…
Do This In Your First Hour, Day, Week, And Month Of Your New Job Getting settled into your new job is the ultimate act of..
-
Dec 29, 2017Grateful Workplaces and Engaged…
Grateful Workplaces and Engaged Employees All leaders need to ask themselves why happy and engaged employees are worth their weight in gold. If you’re a..
-
Dec 15, 2017Employee stress during Christmas
Managing employee stress during the festive period More than half of employees feel stressed in the weeks leading up to Christmas, with most calling for..
-
Nov 17, 2017Employee Appraisals
Importance of Effective Employee Appraisals The performance appraisal may be one of the few times during the year where an employee and the reviewer, typically..
-
Nov 2, 2017The workplace is changing
From Cubicle To Coffee Shop - How The Workplace As We Know It Is Changing In the past few years we have seen a major..
-
Oct 13, 2017Working for small companies
Why You Should Consider Working For A Small Company Eighty-four percent of small-business employees are happy in their current job, according to the 2017 Aflac..
-
Sep 22, 2017Workplaces still hamper productivity
Workplaces still hamper productivity Noise, lack of privacy and space are some of the factors causing the greatest dissatisfaction among office workers Nearly half of..
-
Aug 25, 2017Top 10 Benefits Of…
Top 10 Benefits Of A Workplace Wellness Program When Google opened up in the 90s it took a unique approach to employee satisfaction. In an..
-
May 2, 2017Employee Burnout
What causes burnout and how it can affect both the employees and the organisation How HR Can Help Prevent Employee Burnout An engaged workforce. It's..