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The Worlds of Facility Management and Workplace are, by definition, highly mobile and evolutive.

On these pages, you will find technical articles, news, reports on congresses and conferences in which Spaceonmove took part as well as positions or “mood tickets” which should give you a particular insight into these two fields. Nice readings.

Blue-collar workers among white-collar workers

Posted on by Christian Hadorn | Article

Working as a blue-collar worker in a white-collar environment: a challenge and an opportunity.

Being a blue-collar worker in an environment dominated by white-collar workers can be a challenge, but it’s often an opportunity that many people don’t realise.

Complementarity, a major asset Complementarity within a company is essential. It allows us to get the best out of everyone, using their knowledge and expertise to promote the development of the company and its working environment.

Living together, the key to success The key lies in behaviour, education and good manners. Regardless of the structure or hierarchy of the company, there are always great personalities as well as harmful individuals, who are often unaware of their negative impact.

So how do you thrive as a blue-collar worker amongst the white-collar workers?

Understanding the notion of ‘blue collar First of all, we need to define what a ‘blue collar’ is: we need to know whether his or her activities are part of the company’s ‘core business’. If this is not the case, then you could be classed as what some people call ‘blue collar’. In most companies, blue-collar workers far outnumber white-collar workers. So how do you satisfy this ‘minority’?

Some food for thought:

• Remaining objective It’s crucial to be as objective as possible, to base yourself on facts. By doing so, you often end up winning, because facts don’t lie.

• Knowing how to navigate in the ‘right court Elites’ sometimes prefer to isolate themselves from others, believing them to be uninteresting or uneducated. However, staying in one’s role often makes for calmer relationships, while observing and smiling in silence.

• Deliver consistent results Although the “core businesses” has often become more complex and less attractive due to increasing constraints, the ‘back office’ remains an essential stabiliser for the company, far removed from commercial tensions.

• Knowing your value Even without explicit recognition, a blue-collar worker is often a valuable contributor to the company. Their experience and knowledge of the company’s history make them a guardian of stability and an asset for avoiding mistakes.

Is it worth being a blue-collar worker among the white-collar workers?

After spending more than 10 years in the “core businesses” of a large company before moving into logistics activities for nearly 30 years, I consider that being a ‘blue-collar worker’ is a privilege and a real asset in many situations.

Looking at the challenges facing companies today, I’m more convinced of this reality every day.

Happy reading and see you soon.

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