The world’s largest remote working experiment has challenged every HR leader with a variety of challenges. From the health and safety of employees to their demands for flexible working, the pandemic has undoubtably changed the way we work. Having to respond to the health and safety of the workforce, promote positive work life balance and now encouraging the return to the office, employers are now re-engaging employees to the ‘new normal’.
In this episode of the Gensler Design Podcast, our Host David Calkins, Regional Managing Principal of Gensler APME sits with his guest, Ting Smith, Gensler’s Regional HR Director of APME as they discuss various holistic approach and opportunities to create the best possible workplace experience through the blending of space, technology, and culture.
What is Workplace Experience?
Workplace experience essentially looks at how employees proactively use the space, the technology and connect with the people and culture. If you look at those three key factors – physical space, technology and culture, they are ever-evolving and interlinked. The essence of a great workplace experience is how employees navigate through their daily work successfully providing the level of well-being they are now striving for.
Is workplace experience the same as employee engagement?
Beyond workplace experience, employee engagement is a major key factor for a firm to successful retain and attract. Workplace experience involves how well it can offer purpose, space and opportunity that supports every employee to excel in their role. The ideal scenario any firm want to create is for every employee to feel that the workplace is tailored-made for them.
Whilst, employee engagement focuses on how well a firm is retaining talent based on motivational factors. Typically, these are supported by things like - career development programs, learning opportunities, compensation and benefits structure and so forth. There’s a clear correlation between engagement and experience. One impacts the other and many HR initiatives now focus on both.
Then if we’re doing all this, why is there such an active movement in the talent market?
We have seen the impact of the great resignation in many regions – many firms are recalibrating their talent retention and attraction strategies in today’s very competitive market. Today’s talent don’t just look for career growth and development alone, they seek comfort to be themselves, a sense of belonging and flexibility offered to them. They want a safe space to reconnect.
In addition to this, they look to join a firm’s values that align with their values. That may include the way they work, the way the leaders lead as well as their diversity & inclusion, as well as social responsibility commitments.
Listen to the full conversation on the Gensler Design Podcast. Thanks for tuning in!