Improve your office design and technology to retain talent in 2022
By Angela Ferguson, Co-founder, Future X Collective
- While the pre-pandemic workplace focused on providing quiet and isolated working experiences for employees, in 2022 the office has become a space for social interaction and collaboration.
- A recent study showed that 48 per cent of respondents were dissatisfied find with their workplace.
- Workplaces must look at each aspect of their organisation from office design to workplace culture and technology, to create an experience which is engaging for employees.
The past two years have fundamentally changed the way we work forever. Australians have learnt to adapt to a hybrid working system, and now organisations must clearly change with the times to create an experience of work that is productive, collaborative and drives mental wellbeing.
In March Future X Collective (FXC), a group of leading experts in holistic workplace design consultancy, hosted a virtual webinar alongside panellists, including myself, Saranne Segal, Founder of Segal Conflict Solutions and Jeff Downs, CEO of Redback Connect, to discuss the future of Australian workplaces. Moderated by Paris Cutler, entrepreneur and business coach, this expert conversation explored how hybrid office design and effective online conferencing platforms play a critical role in preserving talent in a competitive global market.
‘Workplaces must look at each aspect of their organisation from office design to workplace culture and technology, to create an experience which is engaging for employees. Improving one of these is not enough, because they all rely on each other. Now is the time for business leaders to leverage the learnings of the past two years and put into practice workplace changes that Australian workers are calling for in order to retain key talent,’ says Angela Ferguson.
The top tips the emerged in the webinar discussion for creating an employee experience through design and technology which will retain top talent are:
- Stop talking, start listening
The simplest way to determine how your company should adapt to the changing nature of work is to ask your staff. Future X Collective’s research into over 9,000 employees, dubbed ‘The Future of Work; creating the Post Pandemic Workplace’, found what people missed most during working from home periods were their colleagues and the face-to-face interaction, whether that was through collaborative work or social connection.
Likewise, in a recent PwC study, research showed that 48 per cent of respondents were dissatisfied with their workplace. Both these pieces of research, acquired through interacting with people, has helped businesses shape their approach to office design and workplace wellbeing.
By connecting with your staff, whether that be through satisfaction surveys, focus groups, or one on one reviews, you can undercover key insights in your workplace that you may have overlooked. People are at the heart of an organisation, so to make workplace changes that will retain talent, you must first consult the talent.
- Try using other online conferencing platforms than Zoom
Fatigue for digital conferencing platforms was heavily experienced by workers throughout 2020, with technical issues often disrupting the flow of meetings or webinars. As we transition into a hybrid world, organisations must invest in their technology to create a seamless employee experience that allows both those WFH and those in the office to communicate easily.
To create this experience, you must know which digital platform suits the discussion style you wish to have.
‘If there are only two to five participants in your meeting, then Zoom should work effectively to convey your message.
‘However, if you are hosting an Annual General Meeting or Town Hall, with multiple presenters or a large audience, using a specialised conferencing platform managed by a third party will aid to create a smooth digital experience,’ says Jeff Downs.
If you deem the message as important, you need to make the format you share it across professional.
- You don’t need to get rid of your office, you just need to change it
As many workplaces have adopted a hybrid working rhythm, the function of the office in 2022 has shifted. The pre-pandemic workplace focused on providing quiet and isolated working experiences for employees to ensure productivity. However, as focus work can now occur from home, the office has become a space for social interaction and collaboration.
‘Swap out rows of single desks for more collaborative spaces with chairs and sofas which can be moved for team brainstorming sessions. Replace large conference rooms with collaborative nooks that offer reusable whiteboards,’ says Angela Ferguson.
Not all work in the office will be collaborative, so implementing small rooms to suit one to two people which have been fitted with acoustics appropriate for digital conferencing will assist staff in connecting with others virtually.’
- Salary is important, but so is flexibility, wellbeing and feeling valued
The great resignation witnessed large numbers of Australian employees leaving their jobs in search of
better workplace culture, with wellbeing benefits, and adequate remuneration.
‘To attract and retain talent, organisations must be willing to compensate employees for what they are truly worth, this is key to employee satisfaction and a feeling of being valued
Additionally, talent are seeking out flexibility so they can alter their hours beyond the standard nine to five and work from various locations including abroad,’ says Saranne Segal.
These needs play into a larger focus on mental health, as talent look for organisations that have an authentic approach to wellbeing. Whether that be providing mental health plans, wellbeing activities or company counselling.
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