NEWS & ANALYSIS FMJ.CO.UK
WORKPLACE FUTURES
WORKPLACE FUTURES
RETURN TO THE WORKPLACE
As Chair of the conference Martin
Pickard noted in his introduction
to inaugural speaker Tim Oldman of
the Leesman Index, “it’s a fascinating
time to be in FM, but for those of
you managing o ices there’s a lot of
conflicting noise out there”. There
certainty is, for as Oldman pointed
out, there’s never been as much
coverage by the mainstream media
on the future of the workplace, much
of which is alarmist or inaccurate.
Ably utilising Leesman’ data,
Oldman’s presentation helped to
paint a more accurate picture.
He began however with a message to
FMs that while CEOs are finally sitting
up and taking notice of the important
role played by the workplace, FM is in
danger of squandering this opportunity
if global HR takes over responsibility. He
warned that the facilities management
sector needs to urgently establish its
purpose, role and mission, which is
to enhance the employee experience.
There’s still much to be done. Leesman
research found that nearly two thirds
(64 per cent) of organisations have yet
to communicate their post pandemic
workplace strategies.
Next, Hannah Nardini of Wkspace
o… ered some useful advice on
10 AUGUST 2021
implementing a successful return to
work strategy. While remote working
has succeeded in keeping organisations
functioning, the cracks she said are
beginning to appear, with people
craving the feeling of connection only
a workplace can provide. Nardini
acknowledged that hybrid working
models are here to stay, which she said
will require organisations to instigate
longer term real estate strategies. The
layout of the workplace has irrevocably
changed; and with fewer people
anchored to a desk and increased
demand for collaboration opportunities,
she forecasts a reduction in formal
desking in favour of more ‘dynamic’
spaces.
PEOPLE AND PLACE
Taking up the theme of people and
place, the CIPD’s Head of Policy
Ben Willmott and its Labour Market
Economist Jon Boys revealed that
workplace occupation is projected to
return to pre-pandemic levels by the
end of this year. However, alongside
this the data indicates that two thirds of
employers are planning on expanding or
introducing hybrid working over the next
12 months.
Craig Butt of ENGIE expanded on the
need for FM to take a people centric
approach, which is why the sector needs
to concentrate on o… ering inspiring and
motivational spaces. While sustainable
remits such as meeting carbon reduction
targets hasn’t diminished, for FMs
post-pandemic the focus is on looking
a• er people, rather than simply looking
a• er buildings he said. Going forward,
supporting the health, happiness and
performance of users will be paramount.
Putting the notion of people and place
into real life practice, Wes Montgomery
of CBRE and Neil Edmond, Director
of Workplace at BT presented an
interesting case study on the measures
BT has taken to attract sta… back into
the o… ice by providing the best possible
workplace experience. As they surmised,
never before has it been so important
that FM suppliers and their client’s share
with users what they’re doing, why
they’re doing it and what they’re doing
to keep people safe.
BUILDING ENVIRONMENT
The conference didn’t stint on o… ering
some vital pointers on the health
and safety aspects in overseeing a
mass return to work. Mark Crossley,
Operational Policy Advisor at the
Health & Safety Executive presented
a comprehensive overview of the
multitude of issues to keep in mind
when reopening the workplace; from
access to hand cleaning to ventilation
quality.
On this point it was also useful to hear
some expert advice from Graeme Fox,
Head of Technical for the BESA (Building
Engineering Services Association) on the
importance of ventilation. He included a
useful reminder that the quality of the air
that we breathe is important for health
and wellbeing of occupants all of the
time and not just to help prevent COVID.
Earlier in the day Nardini predicted
that catering will play a major role
in promoting engagement, with
workplace baristas and co… ee points
all being ramped up to help make the
o… ice a destination of choice. While
providing quality food and drink was
always its aim, following the pandemic
said Harpreet Cheema of Sodexo, the
catering and services sector has to think
di… erently and creatively about the
services it provides and ways to further
support clients. He noted that during the
last 18 months there has been a seismic
shi• in how we work and we’re now
in a pivotal moment in the evolution
of the workplace. This generates huge
opportunities for those willing to grab it
which is why as an industry FM cannot
a… ord to stand still.
Nicola Gillen of Cushman & Wakefield
specialises in the relationship between
design, people, behaviour and the built
environment and her belief is that while
COVID was a catalyst for hybrid working
it is not a cause. Employees have been
agitating for flexible working for a long
time, but the key change is that the
C suite is now listening and HR are
engaged with the idea. This may result
in a need for a reduction in the amount
of commercial o… ice real estate but that
which is provided will need to be of
higher quality in terms of both buildings
and their location.
A return to work presents us with an
opportunity to listen to every individual’s
needs and utilise it to help determine the
future of the workplace, said Dan Guest
of Mitie - who asked FMs to consider,
‘how can you make a di… erence to make
your people feel safe and confident?’ His
views reflected the overall theme of the
day that FM has finally got a prime place
at the table and it must be careful not to
lose that opportunity. It’s a message that
the sector would do well not to ignore.
www.workplace-futures.co.uk/aboutthe
conference
This free to attend online event from the Workplace Futures conference team
deftly pinpointed some key challenges for FMs in managing the widescale
return to the workplace
/about-the-conference
