FM COMMUNICATIONS GLOBAL FM AWARDS OF
HOW REDUCING INTERRUPTIONS CAN
HELP TACKLE WORKPLACE BURNOUT
JESS PRITCHARD, HEAD OF CORPORATE SECTOR AT
MONEYPENNY
A major stress-causing factor at work is interruption
– from constant phone calls and emails to deliveries
or dealing with visitors, it can quickly feel like you’re
constantly being distracted from your core role. Failure
to get mounting interruptions under control could prove
extremely costly – to both job success and mental health.
Data from Berkeley University has revealed that on
average, interruptions take 23 minutes and 15 seconds to
recover from – even if the distraction is only a minute. This
added pressure can cause already overstretched staff to
become stressed and anxious. It’s a vicious cycle which leads
to heightened absence and eventual attrition.
The last 12 months have taught us that health is wealth
and protecting a workforce’s mental state must sit at
the top of every facilities manager’s agenda. Diminished
productivity leads to loss of revenue and, coupled with
the harmful eff ects interruptions can have on employee
confi dence and mental wellbeing, is a recipe for disaster.
Now is the ideal time for FMs to rethink company operations
and the following tips off er a good place to start:
1. Outsource communications
If staff know there’s the right infrastructure in place
to support them, it can reduce worry. For example, if
staff know all customer calls will be handled warmly,
professionally and effi ciently, even when they’re busy or
in a meeting, it will instil calm and focus without a ringing
phone breaking their concentration. Outsourced telephone
answering, switchboard and outbound follow-up support is
the ideal solution for keeping interruptions to a minimum
while maintaining the client experience.
2. Choose technology that aligns
Streamline the number of video and project management
platforms in use across the company so that employees
come to ‘know them’ and don’t lose time loading diff erent
systems or fi nding multiple log-ins in between meetings
and tasks. There’s real value in keeping it simple and
choosing technology that has wider value – for example,
our telephone answering system has a Microsoft Teams
integration which means call handlers know who’s available
and when. The result – less interruption for busy staff and a
better client experience.
3. Diary management
Diaries aren’t just for meetings. Encourage employees to
use their diaries to block manage their time, include tasks
and add detail about whether they’re available or need
quiet time. By making sure that front of house, reception or
outsourced switchboard teams have access to these diaries
it’s possible to give employees the space they need to look
after themselves, be productive and thrive.
For more information about solutions that can improve
effi ciency, reduce distraction and mitigate burn out, visit
www.moneypenny.com/uk/
6 JUNE 2021
EXCELLENCE WINNERS 2021
Global FM, a worldwide federation of member-centric organisations representing
the facilities management profession has announced the winners of its annual
Global FM Awards for Excellence in Facilities Management.
The awards programme celebrates organisations for their commitment and
success in promoting and enhancing FM practice.
‘Celebrating FM – Standing Tall Beyond the Pandemic’
This year’s Global FM Awards for Excellence have honoured the eˆ orts by
individuals or teams within the FM profession who have made “a positive
contribution to the knowledge, practical application and communication of
strategies to bring a safe and secure workplace environment and sustainable
performance of their facilities both during the pandemic but also looking beyond
the pandemic in a resilient manner”.
Global FM Awards of Excellence 2021Winners
Platinum Award of Excellence in FM 2021
DSOA - Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, nominated by MEFMA
Gold Award of Excellence in FM 2021
Engie UK and Ireland - Making Zero Carbon Happen at Engie, nominated by IWFM
Silver Award of Excellence in FM 2021
Cushman & Wakefield - Use of Drones in Property Management, nominated by
ABRAFAC
Highly Commended Award of Excellence in FM 2021
Massmart / Pragma - Technology Implementation, nominated by SAFMA
Highly Commended Award of Excellence in FM 2021
Engie Solutions - Smart and Sustainable FM Solutions, nominated by MEFMA
GRITIT REBRANDS AS OUTCO
Following the recent acquisition of surfacing and engineering business NMC
Group Ltd, the Group says the OUTCO brand reflects the company’s evolution into
“the UK’s leading outdoor estate
compliance experts with a new and
unique service oˆ ering,” as well as its
“breadth of expertise,” which includes
a full range of technology-enabled
infrastructure, winter and grounds
compliance services.
OUTCO’s unique combined service
oˆ ering provides a new way for
customers to manage outdoor assets
by bringing together multiple outdoor services to ensure enhanced outdoor estate
safety, compliance and commercial eˆ iciency.
Recently appointed OUTCO CEO, Andy Barry, said: “The eˆ ective management of a
company’s outdoor estate can be complex and time-consuming for a business. What
we now bring to our clients is a new way of working. A full range of outdoor estate
management services procured under a single contract.
“Having one company managing your entire outdoor estate simplifies the whole
process and saves time, eˆ ort and ultimately, costs. Beyond this, the synergies
between services drives real value. Our clients will benefit from a more joined
up and proactive approach to risk management and compliance, powered by
our innovative leading-edge technology. This ensures greater transparency of
both opportunities and risks across sites, more accountability and better service;
ultimately a better and safer experience for our clients, customers and staˆ .”
Under the new brand, OUTCO will continue to manage more than 7,500 sites, for
some of the UKs biggest organisations, including Tesco, BP and the NHS.
NEWS & ANALYSIS FMJ.CO.UK
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