The Story Until Now
It’s 2023 and AI is one of the most common topics in the press.
This focus is bypassing the most fundamental element of work: employers need to focus on their people. A recent study from Unispace, which covered 17 markets across the globe, revealed that 42% of businesses suffered greater employee turnover than expected following return-to-office mandates. While smart buildings are transforming corporate real estate, employers must successfully implement this new technology to encourage collaboration and reduce turnover. Even amid the economic rollercoaster of the last few years, this statistic heightens a fact we already knew: those in charge need to ensure their workers’ values are prioritised if they wish to attract and retain talented workers.
What Employees Want
A Focus on Flexibility
It goes without saying that, for forward-thinking companies, technology is worth embracing. However, with a variety of futuristic solutions on the market, from chatbots to access control from your phone, employers will need to decide which are worth the investment to ensure employees feel valued.
The talent of the future wants hybrid flexibility, with space provided for in-person collaboration but choice over when this happens. Deloitte’s 2023 Gen Z and Millenial Survey revealed that a substantial 77% of Gen Zs and 71% of millennials would consider moving roles if asked to give up working from home completely. Despite this, a number of large companies (like Amazon) have begun to ask their employees to return to the office. This in itself is indicative of a disconnect between those making the decisions and those being affected leading to higher employee turnover in the long run.
This need for flexible work does not mean, however, that the younger generations are against collaboration. A recent report from Offsyte revealed that 65% of employees aged 18-34 wanted their bosses to more proactively encourage collaboration, and over 79% of millennials see the possibility of mentoring as vital to a successful career. Thus, just because employees want flexibility, that doesn’t mean they want to be less connected to those they work with.
Reflecting Climate Values
In a world where July was the hottest month on record, and where the polar ice caps are melting at a shocking speed, workers across the globe are having to factor a new element into their career decisions: the climate.
In February 2023, a report by Paul Polman revealed that nearly half of Gen Z and Millenials are willing to be paid less if it means working for a corporation that shares their values, and over three-quarters find it important whether a business is taking action on climate change. However, with green offices viewed as more expensive, those in charge must consider how they can prove value to their employees by making climate-conscious investments.
Introducing ESG monitoring technology as part of a long-term corporate strategy to reduce carbon emissions is essential.
The Dreaded Commute
Another key factor in new job-related decisions is the commute. In a world where hybrid work is the norm, the commute must be frictionless enough to entice workers into the office. Various studies have suggested that commuting is a fundamental reason for the reluctance to give up working from home. Not only is it expensive and bad for the planet, the average commute in US pre-pandemic (2019) was 27.6 minutes. When the return journey time is added, that’s an hour a day lost to travel that could be spent socialising, doing chores, or relaxing at home. While employers are unlikely to be financially able to facilitate moving their colleagues physically closer to the office, they can focus on ensuring a smooth commute.
From available parking spaces to the coordination of in-office days to ensure the commute was productive, there is technology that can help curate a simpler office experience.
The Solution
Shared values, worthwhile commutes, and flexibility are all fundamental to curating an environment that employees are comfortable in. Without these, it can be tricky to attract and retain the best talent for your corporation.
This is where smart buildings come in; using technology monitoring and solutions to elevate the workplace experience. They can also enable the team to collaborate on in-office days, ensure parking and desk space is available prior to arrival, and demonstrate a commitment to ESG goals through monitoring carbon emissions.
The implementation of technology to control or regulate energy use, and reduce overall consumption, such as Spica’s Ecopilot, can support the curation of a sustainable workplace. By collecting real-time data from sensors and automatically controlling the HVAC system of a building, these solutions can ensure energy efficiency without needing to rely on complicated manual analysis or fundamental changes to the property itself.
Additionally, through integrating workplace experience platforms, like Spica’s GemEx Engine, operators can offer an advanced booking system, easily accessible through an app. This could be used for desks, meeting rooms, or car parking spaces, making it simple for employers to guarantee a frictionless office experience.
Finally, the seamless integration of space management software with IoT sensors, like Spica’s Yanzi Health, can amplify the potential for data-backed decisions within the workplace. These advanced sensors provide real-time insights into temperature, occupancy, lighting, and air quality, allowing businesses to ensure stepping into the office is consistently met with an environment of optimal comfort and well-being, making it well worth the commute.
For the sake of current and future talent, now is the time to invest in smart buildings.
