VIEW POINT / PERSPECTIVES
M O NICA HILL
N ICOL A H A N N A M
ARCHITECTS OF OUR FUTURE
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MONICA HILL is workplace manager at law firm Pinsent Masons LLP
NICOLA HANNAM is company secretary and chief of staff at CIPFA
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’m so inspired to be a part of the workplace profession right now. Ours is a productive industry focused on improving service operations and enhancing the workplace experience. Helping to deliver this new future, right at our fingertips, is technology – much of it being tech we already know. Technology has always played an important part within the workplace but never did we think it would matter so much. It is allowing us to rethink the way we work, and to embrace, empower and transform our workplace experience – in the office and at home. Despite the shock of 23 March 2020, making working from home a new experience for many, I am astounded at the way we have all adapted and embraced our new way of working. But as we return, the workplace and facilities management profession is helping to shape the future of work. Organisations choosing to work from
home are devising new strategies to make this a permanent reality. It’s set to disrupt the status quo and create an entirely new energy for the future. Some buildings are destined to become large empty and unproductive spaces. Others are filled with possibilities for redevelopment, optimising space and making technology a fundamental part of the building fabric. We are in the process of creating an enhanced and healthier workplace for all users. Getting this right will surely boost productivity levels. Following the digital roadmap has helped our facilities teams to be more flexible and reliable. They have found ways to simplify the complexities of our changing business needs and to confidently deliver a comprehensive end user experience. Let’s continue along this upward trend, think holistically and deliver an agile and collaborative working environment. More change is on the way; are you ready?
We are in the process of creating an enhanced and healthier workplace for all users 44
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n the race to create the hybrid workplace, we must remain vigilant to ensure it is accessible to and inclusive of everyone. Early data is showing that younger workers favour being in the office more than their older colleagues. The reasons vary but include younger people in cities having less space in their living arrangements than older workers. However, those from older generations tend to have caring responsibilities and favour more time working from home. An immediate concern, then, is whether the hybrid model could create a generational divide. Young employees benefit from being mentored, formally and informally, by their older colleagues. As many with in-office experience know, a great deal of learning and sharing happens during informal moments. Younger staff build relationships with older employees during casual exchanges. These older colleagues often become advocates for their mentee, helping them to work on new projects or secure promotions. How do we compensate for that if we don’t take steps to consider the potential generational divide? How are we going
to build that into the way we work? How can we use the workplace to ensure equal access to this support for development? Workplace and facilities teams already play a huge role in delivering accessible and inclusive workplaces but need to be even more thorough as we redesign our hybrid workplaces.
Young employees benefit from being mentored, formally and informally, by colleagues Spaces should encourage mixing, facilitate informal exchanges and opportunities for learning, which most of you reading would have been saying for years already. The work-life balance is key and I believe the hybrid model has much to offer many workers. But we need to proceed with caution, compassion and understanding. We need to reflect before rushing the redesign of our offices.
FAC I L I TAT E S EP T EM B ER- O C TO B ER 2021
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03/09/2021 13:50
