Large companies often opt for architecturally distinctive buildings in representative locations for their headquarters or key branches.
In addition to the image and message to customers and the market, managers often state that “the best should be offered to employees” in this area. It is hard not to agree with such an approach, even if it is not the whole story…
With the pandemic, the ‘hybrid’ (face-to-face and remote) world of work has become a ‘standard’ for many companies: workspaces have suddenly taken on unprecedented importance.
Do we achieve the ‘grail’ with the best possible workspace layout in an iconic building? Far from it. Numerous surveys show that most employees want to stay at home at least 2 to 3 days a week. Why do they do this?
Several hypotheses can be put forward:
• Greater “independence” of workers who can organise themselves differently
• Reduction of time spent commuting to and from work
• Better concentration and efficiency during the day (although this argument can be undermined when sharing the “workspace” at home with the whole family…)
• etc.
One criterion is often avoided because it is ‘politically sensitive’: ‘toxic’ bosses and colleagues! You know the ones who are ineffective, who organise sessions that last for hours but have “zero” results, who are never there when needed, who micro-manage and control constantly, those whose level of empathy is equal to a piece of wood, etc.
Yet, according to feedback, these are the criteria that are decisive for the staff.
In other words, an iconic location and an iconic building is exciting for a few days; an unpleasant manager or team will, if possible, drive them away at the first opportunity. Cynical managers will say that they can retain their employees through salaries. This is to forget that an unhappy employee is never effective and that the new generations do not work like that at all.
A beautiful body may be attractive for a while, but if the engine - the heart - does not respond, it is quickly abandoned. The same is true in the world of work and some leaders would be well advised to regularly review their codes of conduct and ethics and ask themselves the age-old question: am I the solution or the problem?
No hard feelings ladies and gentlemen: I have had the great honour and pleasure of being in your position for many years. With a little passion for your employees, you can often move mountains.
Have a good week, good thoughts, and good reading