work environments increasing week by week leading up to Summer
(subject to Government guidance), we do not have long to find the
solution.
Commuting has a major impact on our sense of wellbeing and work
satisfaction, with 23 per cent of people reporting they have le a job
previously because of the commute. So, before we tackle the di icult
problem of enhancing facilities to accommodate people getting to
work under their own steam, it is important to understand how your
workplace can be flexible in accommodating remote working moving
forwards. We could write a book on flexible working but that is
beyond this piece, and so I simply say that we have a responsibility to
consider our employees wellbeing above all else.
The unseen benefit to a more fluid workplace population is that
there may be opportunities to capitalise on the spare space! Social
distancing will, eventually, become a thing of the past (or at least
reduce back down to 1m+). With people working remotely, there
are easy wins in the o ice such as reducing desks but enabling desk
booking to ensure we are using all available space. This coupled
with antiviral coatings, thorough cleaning methods and good IAQ,
means the workplace once again becomes a haven for being a safe,
productive environment. Regardless, it is important to consult with
your workforce to understand how they envisage using the space.
Twenty one per cent of job seekers consider the presence of
facilities such as showers, bike storage, lockers, changing spaces
and cycle-to-work schemes in their decision to join a company. It is
no longer just a case of aiding people in getting into the workplace,
but a critical factor in attracting and keeping talent. The cost benefit
analysis of retrofitting such facilities should take this into account
in the inevitable budgetary debate that ensues, as well as the cost
implications of less in-situ desk space.
COVID has the potential to be the catalyst for an improved work-life
balance, with a more conscientious workplace o ering. Let us not
lose that momentum in the coming months.
THE HR DIRECTOR’S VIEW
JASMINE HUDSON, HR DIRECTOR FOR MITIE GROUP
The pandemic has had a
huge impact on the way
we all commute. While
many of our frontline
heroes have been
commuting throughout
the pandemic, with the
increase in people working
from home, for some
there is no commute at
all. However, others are
looking at how they can
travel safely via public
transport, whilst others
are looking for greener
options, be that opting for an electric vehicle (EV) or cycling to work
so they don’t add to road congestion and pollution. As we move
into a post-COVID world, it is vital that organisations support their
employees with safe and sustainable journeys to work.
As the Government continues to focus on net zero and the number
of Clean Air Zones increases, the volume of non-electric vehicles in
city centres is set to fall. Coupled with many of us wanting to be more
active and avoid busy transport, commuting by bike is sure to grow in
popularity once o ices begin to reopen. Creating a green travel plan
can help make this an easy switch and is where FMs can take the lead.
22 APRIL 2021
This will include reviewing current policies, conducting sta surveys
and auditing sites to ensure they have the facilities needed – such as
lockers, bike racks and showers – for anyone who chooses to cycle.
Of course, bikes, and all the safety gear, can be expensive, which
is where schemes like Cycle2Work come in. Our people told us they
wanted to get on their bikes, so to help more of them do this, in
June 2020 we increased Mitie’s Cycle2Work allowance from £2,000
to £3,000. This has enabled employees to invest in better quality
bikes and all the kit they need to go with it. As a result, applications
increased by 57 per cent compared to the previous year.
FMs also play a key role in looking a er our public transport
systems and ensuring they’re as safe as possible, especially in the
past year. This includes introducing a number of new measures
and innovations to enhance cleaning regimes, including anti-viral
misting, the use of ultraviolet light to clean high-touch point areas,
and the use of long-lasting disinfectants.
Still, we know first-hand that for many job roles in the facilities
management industry, relying on public transport isn’t always
practical. For those that depend on their car or van, switching to EVs
is a good example of how companies can balance their employees’
wellbeing and the business’ net zero goals. As well as their clear
environmental benefits, EVs have several other perks, including lower
running costs and being more pleasant to drive. We’re passionate
that the future of fleets is electric, with 1,000 Mitie EVs already on
the road, and the feedback from our EV drivers is overwhelmingly
positive.
But sometimes, it’s the simple solutions that have a big impact – be
that allowing colleagues to be flexible with their start and end times
to travel when it’s quieter, providing information on alternatives to
car sharing, or giving employees face coverings for their commutes,
as we have at Mitie. No two businesses, sites or employees are the
same, but by considering all the options we can help our colleagues
travel to work safely and sustainably.
Do you have a question that you’d like
answered by the FMJ Clinic?
Email: sara.bean@kpmmedia.co.uk
FM CLINIC
Jasmine Hudson
ADVICE & OPINION
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