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Workers should expect the same company benefits if they choose to work from home. Let's talk about why.

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 18:11:23 GMT

The pandemic has shaken up a lot of things in our lives, and for many of us, we’ve been forced to face things we never wanted to have to encounter: uncertainty, loss, utter madness, and endlessly binging on junk food. But at the same time, after a year and a half of swimming through its messiness, we’ve also realized we can be incredibly resilient, and kind and compassionate, and productive, creative, and pretty awesome human beings. And the thing is, once we’ve tapped into this powerful knowledge that our lives matter, and that how we choose to live it is a one-shot deal, then the way we start to see things changes. We start to appreciate the value of true, meaningful relationships, and that time is both short and irreversible.

Earlier this year, very shortly after companies started announcing their plans for their workers to return to the office, the Great Resignation began . That’s not a coincidence. Just as many of us started coming into the realization that we are pretty awesome human beings, we also realized we just couldn’t go back to face a workplace where, as reinforced by an article by Gallup , we felt undervalued, disengaged, and lacking of a sense of purpose in our work.

Today, workers are more empowered than ever. They’ve not only reconnected with what’s important to them, but they also now have proof that they can be productive, successful, and contribute to their organization’s business growth while working remotely.

With this environment as the backdrop to all things related to a workplace, it is a big wonder why companies are now starting to either implement, or considering to implement, huge cuts to employee salaries and benefits if they choose to continue to work remotely. Their rationale, which is based on HR policies developed pre-pandemic, is that their salary structure is based on the difference in the cost of living per geography. In most cases, the “geography” refers to the location of the office, and not where a person lives. So, by choosing to work from home, an employee’s “workplace geography” may change, and as a result, so may their corresponding salary structure.

The problem is that there is a failure for these companies to understand that just like the physical workplace itself, all policies related to the workplace experience from 2020 onwards are evolving. And rightfully so.

Let’s start by taking a look at the cost of a workplace experience for employees who were forced to work from home from the start of the pandemic. The only real difference is that employees didn’t have to spend anything on commuting to work anymore. But at the same time, they now have to cover the costs of a proper home office set-up, increased utility and Wi-Fi bills, higher costs for food and coffee, and new expenses like video conferencing equipment, a printer, and a shredder. And most companies acknowledge that even remote workers will need to come into the office a few days a week or a month, so you can’t really knock out commute expenses altogether either. So how would a pay cut justify the increase in all these expenses that are directly related to work?

And then let’s look at the humanistic effects, which, in this new pandemic environment, are more tangible than ever. We’ve seen since early this year that if employees don’t feel that they are valued by their employers, they will join the 4 million others who have walked out in favor of companies that will. And the only message that cutting a remote worker's salary and benefits gives to workers, is that by choosing to work from home, they will be valued less. Well, we already know that kind of messaging hasn’t been working out very well.

If the cost of turnover of one employee includes the total cost of hiring for that position, training the new employee, any severance or bonus packages, and managing the role while it is still being filled, then how exactly would cutting the pay of an employee benefit the company itself? Doing so could be an expensive gamble.

The only message that cutting a remote worker’s salary and benefits gives their workers, is that by choosing to work from home, they will be valued less.

This time of the pandemic has shifted our perspectives inwards. We’ve come to understand ourselves a little better. In the same way, companies need to shift their perspectives inwards as well. Come to understand that truly, their success rests on one word only, and that’s their People. Empowering them to be successful should be the main focus, and not where it is they’re working from. And valuing them as people, as well as workers, is the key to their loyalty, dedication, and happiness.

Re-entering the Workplace: 5 Things Every Workplace Should Have, and the One Thing Every Employee Should Ask For.

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 23:52:33 GMT

As the pandemic starts to loosen its grip on work-from-home restrictions, companies are grappling with how to structure their workplace re-entry plans, while employees are starting to build a whole new level of anxiety about returning to work.

Let me start with this. If you are one such employee, let me ease your anxiety by reassuring you of one important fact: Having a safe place to work is your legal right. So know that your company also wants you to feel safe coming back to work.

Equally important, companies themselves need to be aware that people are still coming out of a prolonged traumatic event, and it will take some time for everyone to get back to a sense of normalcy – particularly when it comes to being back in the workplace.

This is why the two key elements to building the re-entry process are listening to employees’ concerns , and being transparent about the changes being made to the new workplace. Here are the top five things that companies can start with on their workplace changes checklist:

An entrance process.

This is like an “invisible body guard” at the entrance of your workplace. Everyone needs to know there is a protocol that applies to everyone entering the space, like when you enter an establishment or an aircraft. This could be anything from pre-registration to symptom checking.

Improvements to office cleaning, sanitizing, and ventilation.

Not only should the office be compliant with updated CDC guidelines, it’s important to share these improvements with employees to give them peace of mind.

Visible safety protocols and signage.

One of the best ways to reduce employee anxiety is to apply visual cues to ensure everyone is doing their part to keep the environment safe. Marked sanitization stations, hand washing guidelines, maximum occupancy in tight spaces, and safety information signs go a long way.

Limited occupancy, increasing slowly over time.

Everyone will need time to come out of the trauma of this pandemic, so the best thing companies can do is allow their employees that time and space. Limit the number of employees allowed back in the office, and in tight spaces such as copy rooms, cafeterias, and elevators.

Flexible work areas.

As people start to figure out how best to be productive, companies can support this transition by offering different options for them to work: individual work stations, collaboration areas, big and small conference rooms, isolation areas, and plenty of outdoor spaces if possible.

And as for the one thing that every employee should ask for before re-entering the workplace? Transparency . Specifically, what is your company doing to address at least these five things in your workplace? Afterall, a safe workplace environment is best for you, best for the company, and best for the community.

The Future of the Workplace: Still too early to tell.

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 23:46:44 GMT

As the coronavirus case numbers improve and vaccination efforts accelerate in the US in general, we are beginning to get a glimpse of how companies are envisioning the future of their workplace post pandemic. In the last two weeks alone, a few of Silicon Valley’s tech giants released announcements on the re-opening of their offices and the expected return of employees to the workplace.

It is apparent that the initial phases of reentering the workplace will call for a hybrid approach, with majority of employees continuing to work remotely. As local government and CDC restrictions ease, there may be an expectation for employees to return to the office fully. And while this may be the case for the second phase of reentry, it may not be the case long term.

That’s because it’s simply too early to tell what the workplace will look like long term.

The workplace – regardless of where that is or how it is defined – is driven by a corporate culture, which is always centered on people. As we start to come out of the dark clutches of the pandemic, people themselves will evolve, thus requiring corporate culture, policies, and priorities to evolve. And as this evolution unfolds, so will the workplace.

Determining today for example, whether the workplace should be redesigned as a solely interactive hub with meeting rooms and collaboration areas, or whether to expect everyone to return to using their own cubicles with no hoteling options, is like putting the cart before the horse.

There will inevitably be a continued need for employees to work from anywhere, as there had already been prior to the pandemic. But to determine the future of the workplace, and what that will look like, we first need to understand how the pandemic has affected human behavior, human interaction, and under what conditions people are now most able to thrive.

It would be unwise to underestimate the impact the pandemic has had on people. Scientists and experts at Harvard University say that much like the Great Depression and World War II, there will be a lasting impact on every part of our generation as we return to life after the pandemic, and that these “broad but hard-to-predict effects will affect society for decades to come.” (Powel, 2020).

The workplace environment that once supported employees to thrive 15 months ago may not meet the needs for the same employees to thrive when they return to the office post-pandemic. Understanding the parameters of the “new normal” will be the building blocks for the future of the workplace.

Evolving Perception of the Workplace

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 03:35:32 GMT

This time last year, virtually every company around the world shut the doors of their offices, and those that could, asked their employees to work from home. The definition of a workplace began its unforeseeable transformation from a physical office space to a virtual room from anywhere… or did it?

The reality is that this transformation had already started occurring over a decade ago. The pandemic that struck the world simply caused our perception of the workplace to finally catch up with this reality.

In 2019 (12 months before the pandemic struck), The International Workplace Group (IWG) released their annual Global Workplace Survey report, in which they examined responses from over 15,000 professionals from 80 countries. This report revealed that 70% of professionals globally work remotely at least one day a week, and more than half work remotely at least half of the week.

Working remotely is not a new concept, it was just perceived differently. Companies considered those who worked from home and those who worked in the office, as separate entities. They invested their resources on the workplace experience of the physical workplace, while disregarding the home workplace environment. But the pandemic has altered that perception. Everyone from the top executives down were forced to work from home, and thus experienced together the importance of a consistent conveyance of the company’s culture for all employees, regardless of where they work.

Taking this new perception into consideration, the corporate world is now facing an evolution in how they will redefine their “workplace” moving forward, post-pandemic. Some companies have evolved to a fully remote workforce, shifting the workplace to the home environment. Some have a hybrid approach. And others are adhering to a fully office-based work environment. Regardless of how this is defined, what is undoubtedly clear is that resources need to be invested in both environments in order to ensure that the corporate culture is consistently felt by all employees, anywhere.

To demonstrate how this is possible, here is a model of a potential hybrid scenario with employees working in both locations.

What is clear when evolving into a hybrid type scenario is that the Home Office is now incorporated into the total Corporate Work Environment, and no longer discounted as a separate entity. This allows a deliberate focus on ensuring the Corporate Culture’s values and experiences are clearly seen, felt, and included in all workspaces, through shared policies, programs, and activities.

As companies continue to redefine their perceptions of a workplace, what remains important is that a company’s biggest asset is its people. Therefore now, more than ever, it is vital to ensure that all employees are able to thrive, from anywhere.

An office fit for Kings?

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 04:43:14 GMT

The physical space is an amazing thing. It has the ability to alter human behavior and even change our perception of ourselves and others. In the HBO series Game of Thrones for example, why do you think a seat on the physical Iron Throne was so sought after? The actual throne itself wasn’t very comfortable. It’s what the physical seat represented that created an instant change in behavior on the part of both the person who sat on it as well as all the people who believe in what it represents.

The physical space in a work environment is another, clearer example of how this phenomenon works.

If you remove all the people from a workspace, or walk into it on a holiday when no one is around, you will gain an understanding of the human dynamics that exist there. A damp, cold office space with stark white overhead lighting and low ceilings, with many tiny desks lined up together in rows, white walls with gray scuff marks, no living plants in sight, and a watercooler in the far corner beside an old coffeemaker, may just be enough to imagine a predictable and monotonous buzz in that space on a regular workday. Whereas walking into a workplace with brightly colored walls, warm ambient lighting, lounging areas with sofas and club chairs, a foosball table in the corner, and desks by the windows, will probably entice you to imagine a more spontaneous energy in the workspace with a lot of intermingling between coworkers.

Now imagine if you witnessed both of these very different workspaces within a single corporate office, each space divided only by a thin wall and maybe a set of double doors. Wouldn’t that make you wonder about the dynamics of that corporate work environment? What set of parameters would define whether a person is placed in one workspace versus the other? Could it have to do with corporate hierarchy? Job function or description? There may even be questions around whether people from these two different office spaces even interact – and if they do, what it must feel like for them to cross over and enter into such a different work environment.

What I have found from living and working in different cities around the world with distinctly different cultures, religions and business practices, is that human beings all react the same way to a physical environment. Environments can change our perspective of ourselves and others.

When a person is given a luxurious office that is starkly different from the offices of the majority in the same company, a sense of superiority in that person becomes inevitable. It’s the degree of superiority and how individuals use it either to their advantage or for others, that differs. Likewise, if a person is given a workspace that is dingy, dark and secluded – or its opposite: assigned to desk number 42 in row after row of the same tiny desk space in a large vast room where everything is exactly the same and no one knows you by name – their sense of self-worth within the company inevitably drops.

These different workspaces even become a way by which others in the company perceive an individual’s value. Joe Smith could come into the office looking like everyone else, but the minute someone mentions that Joe works in the luxurious offices, the perception of him is altered, and he is bestowed a high sense of worth, which even alters the way people interact with him. In the same effect, if someone mentioned that Joe works at desk #42 in the common work area, the perception of his worth in the company also changes, and his name is all too often eventually forgotten.

Understanding this dynamic, and the power that the physical environment inevitably has over human beings and their perceptions, is even more important today than ever. More and more, companies are embracing corporate values grounded in terms such as “Inclusivity and Diversity”, especially as technology enables organizations to become more global. Using these terms in a corporate environment means embracing and respecting what makes people unique individuals, and supporting an environment where each individual is made to feel that they are treated equally – not better nor worse than anyone else in the company, regardless of what their role is.

I’m not an expert on corporate culture nor on what values a company should or should not embrace. But I am an expert on physical work environments, and how they impact human beings. Hence, if your company is not one to embrace such values as Inclusivity and Diversity, then having a work environment with spaces that are so divided in their look and feel, where employees derive their corporate sense of self-worth and value through their assigned workspace, then at least your sense of identity is consistent.

But if your company claims to uphold values that are indeed rooted in Inclusivity and Diversity, then having a workplace environment that also consistently supports, expresses, and enhances these values equally in all workspaces is the most important way for your employees to know what it is to feel embraced for their differences, and be valued equally by the company.

The physical space is an indeed amazing thing. It’s profound ability to change human behavior and our perception of ourselves and others is both remarkable and inevitable. At a time when diverse human backgrounds and experiences have already proven to provide an unparalleled impact on a single decision, why would a company today want to build Iron Thrones?

Enhance your Workplace Experience

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 19:40:58 GMT

For many of us, our home reflects our daily lives, and in its natural state on any given day, it may contain child or pet toys littered on the living room floor, random socks that didn’t quite make it to the laundry hamper, a thin line of dust on the shelves, and clean dishes still in the dishwasher. But the moment we know we’re having guests over, a somewhat frantic overhaul begins – toys are picked up and put away, carpets are vacuumed, shelves are dusted, laundry and dishes are cleaned and put out of sight. Our home still reflects who we are and our unique personalities, we just transformed it into an enhanced version.

Such is the case with any company’s existing Workplace Experience.

Just like our homes which physically represent our distinct personalities, a Workplace Experience physically represents a company’s corporate culture. That’s because Workplace Experience is made up of all the different physical features in a workplace, (the kind of desk you have, what your conference rooms look like, and the quality of your overhead lighting), and the employee-centered services in the work environment (where and how you get your coffee, lunch and snacks, how your mail finds its way to your desk, and whether you get to take a kickboxing class on site). The tricky part, is that unless the Workplace Experience is aligned with the Corporate Culture, it will not have the impact on employees that it’s designed to do. It would be like living in a house with huge paintings on the walls which you don’t even like, exercise equipment in the living room you never asked for nor use, and an overhead light fixture with red light bulbs. Can you imagine the kind of frantic overall you’d need if an important guest was expected to come over to your home tomorrow night? Forget the sloppiness of their location in your house, the fact that these things don’t even represent who you are is what will drive you to a frantic panic!

That’s why the only place to start, when revamping a Workplace Experience, is to know your company’s corporate culture. Remember that Workplace Experience is the expression and physical manifestation of a corporate culture, and therefore it can only serve this purpose if the culture is properly defined.

Enhancing an existing Workplace Experience therefore, is similar to “overhauling” your home because it isn’t about making any changes to your (and whomever shares your home’s) personality, it’s about using what you already have in your home that expresses that, and simply enhancing it to make the best of your personalities shine in that environment.

The good news is that as long as you have within your workplace a desk, a conference room, a reception area and a pantry, you already have an existing Workplace Experience. This is true for an office of 1 or 1,000 employees. So, let’s give an example of a Workplace Experience enhancement for a moderate-sized company. Let’s say for example that this company’s culture is anchored on, above all else, the value of inclusivity. How could we enhance the workplace to express this in a way that employees would not only believe the culture, but imbibe it as well?

In a culture of inclusivity, all employees should feel unquestionably like they are a part of something greater than themselves, and that they are each invaluable pieces of the company as a whole. To support this in a physical space, consider eliminating as many walls within the workplace as possible. Walls serve as barriers, and while they may be important in some areas where privacy is necessary, be cognizant of the fact barriers also support divisiveness. Another suggestion to consider is re-configuring workstations so that they form groups that are accessible to each other and perhaps surround a common water cooler or snack table, encouraging a sense of camaraderie. One of the most important considerations to bear in mind is that in order to physically express a culture of inclusivity – where everyone feels like they equally form an important part of the company, regardless of who they are or what they do – is to make sure that no one feels left out. In a physical workplace, this means that every work area must have the exact same look and feel – from the mailroom to the executive offices. Wall finishes, flooring material, overhead lighting, and even coffee services and snack food variety should be consistent in every area. Otherwise, having stark differences in a Workplace Experience causes an instant an undeniable divide among employees. Encourage employee participation for the creation of facility events and programs, so they feel very much included in the creation of their overall Workplace Experience. It’s through employee-driven ideas that unique programs can be developed, such as Beer Festival Fridays, Team Show-and-Tell events, or an annual Thank You Lunch for all employees from their leaders. All of these gestures, regardless of how small or large they may seem, will have a significant impact on how employees feel, believe, and imbibe a culture of inclusivity.

In the same way that simply picking up toys and cleaning the house can enhance the existing personality of your home, re-designing a Workplace Experience to enhance a Corporate Culture can also be achieved with just a little effort. And for both examples, the effort is always worth it in the end.

For more on Workplace Experience, its relationship with Corporate Culture and Employee Experience, and a guide on how to build a Workplace Experience in your office today, watch out for my first book! Coming out very soon!

What is Workplace Experience?

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 20:52:45 GMT

Have you ever given an important presentation to key decision makers, which ended in successfully, and triumphantly, achieving your goals? Months of preparation, and extraordinary team work among a group of hardworking professionals; brainstorming sessions in enclosed rooms, and early-morning data crunching over coffee; all the many pieces of an immense puzzle finally coming together in one short hour in a boardroom. And in the end, you all nailed it!

An exhilarating experience such as this is achieved by many important pieces coming together to form something that is ultimately greater than the sum of its parts.

Such is a Workplace Experience. It is a group of many different areas in a workplace that come together to provide an experience for employees that enables them to successfully, and happily, achieve their goals. It is the parking spot that was easy to find, the workstation by the light of a window, the much-needed coffee to get everyone through all the data crunching, the option to brainstorm with the team in an enclosed room or work privately on an outdoor porch, and the ability to rejuvenate with a run on a treadmill. It is all the hardworking elements that go unseen behind the scenes, such as facility maintenance, lighting and room temperature, and safety and security, as well as all the visible elements that teams interact with every day – food and beverage services, meeting room set up, gym and fitness programs, and facility events. Workplace Experience is a group of many important pieces of a workplace that come together to form something that is ultimately so much greater than the sum of its parts.

The entire spectrum of Workplace Experience is as varied as it is large, and as such, the only way for all its moving parts to cohesively provide a unified experience, is if it is anchored in a company’s corporate culture. Just like the only way an entire team of professionals can collate a vast quantity of data and successfully funnel it into a meaningful and concise presentation, is if they are all focused on a unified vision for the presentation goal.

At its very starting point, Workplace Experience normally begins with Corporate Real Estate, incorporating decisions that surround not only location and price negotiations, but also whether the property upholds the corporate image and is safe and accessible for employees. Architecture and Interior Design then follows to ensure that the spaces reflect the company’s culture in all its physical attributes. The entire spectrum of Facility Management ensures these spaces are then well maintained and upgraded over the years, and Workplace Technologies from Internet of Things systems to wayfinding apps are integrated to ensure the culture is alive in every physical touchpoint. Finally, specially designed services are incorporated into the overall experience, completing a distinct look and feel that is as unique to the company as the culture itself, such as themed dining spaces, break rooms with specific kinds of snacks and drinks, sleep pods, a fully equipped gym or campus fitness programs, and facility events such as Bring-your-pet-to-work Day.

Ultimately, the purpose of a Workplace Experience is to ensure that all employees are enabled, inspired, and empowered to experience the exhilaration of successfully achieving their goals.

Watch out for my first book on Workplace Experience, to be released this year in August!

Why Workplace Experience is so vastly misunderstood.

Tue, 28 May 2019 03:08:50 GMT

I have been a Workplace Experience specialist for 8 years now, and moved to the Bay Area because this is where the industry is prevalent. When I began developing and running a workplace experience for a company all those years ago, I didn’t even realize it had a name, much less understood the impact it would have on the productivity and happiness of people at work.

What most people seem to get wrong is that Workplace Experience is not – should not be – a mere collection of facility perks and benefits. I learned from that mistake early on, and still witness that mistake being made frequently, even here in the Bay Area. Just because you have a corporate gym on premises, or offer food in a company cafeteria, or designate a space in the office for a pool table, doesn’t mean that (1) your employees will even use it, (2) it will be appreciated, or (3) it will have any significant impact on employee engagement. I have seen free shuttle services for employees being underutilized, food in corporate cafes wasted, free gym classes underpopulated, and facility events fall flat. This is because the biggest misconception about a Workplace Experience is that it will generate a fun, unique, engaging environment all on its own. The mistake is a dependence on a Workplace Experience to create a corporate culture, and not the other way around.

The establishment of a corporate culture that is true to its values, principles and overall mission, is where it all begins, always. This forms the foundation of the relationship between the company and its employees. A solid corporate culture attracts the right employees because people want to invest in relationships that are based on mutual respect, trust, personal growth and a shared vision. But people are also wise to recognize when the company is sincere about its culture, or whether it’s just lip service.

Workplace Experience is the measure by which employees are able to quickly and easily gauge the culture’s authenticity. This is because it is the only element of a culture that can be experienced physically through all the human senses – touch, taste, sound, smell and sight, and so it bears witness to the sincerity of its purpose. That’s why placing a pool table in the office or sleep pods in the corner without having a reason behind their existence will cause more doubt than anything else.

Only if a company’s culture anchors itself on being truly invested in its employees’ health and wellbeing, for example, will facility features such as fitness classes, various healthy food offerings, placement of living plants in offices, allocating special parking spaces designed to optimize step counts, and facility programs aimed at helping people achieve their health goals, succeed. In the same respect, if the office areas of the company executives have vastly higher-end finishes, lighting, comfort and appearance than the work areas of the rest of the company, do you think that employees will believe the company culture supports equality and inclusivity?

And let’s not forget, the purpose of a Workplace Experience is far more than just offering attractive features in a workplace. Its primary function as a tool of the corporate culture is to enable and empower employees to be fully engaged and happy with their work. The scope of Workplace Experience includes the entire journey of an employee throughout their workday – from their transportation to work, their entrance into the facility, the ease with which they are able to access their needs (a meeting room, an appropriate work space, work tools and equipment, locating people and departments, etc.) and collaborate with each other (in engaging spaces, over coffee, with meals, through facility events and programs, etc.), and even providing relief by accomplishing chores before ending the day such as dry cleaning, car wash, or bringing home ready-cooked meals. That’s why Workplace Experience is such a powerful tool. It has within its very purpose, the capacity to directly impact employees’ productivity as well as directly influence their happiness at work.

If a company just throws in facility “perks and benefits” without anchoring them in their corporate culture, this investment will not only be a waste of money, it will be the large elephant in the room that constantly reminds employees of how inauthentic the company is. And conversely, as the only physical manifestation of a corporate culture, Workplace Experience can be the company’s most important tool in expressing to employees their sincerity.

Watch out for my first book on Workplace Experience, coming out this year!

If you think having a magnificently designed workplace will manifest your corporate culture, guess again.

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 05:14:38 GMT

I have worked as both an Interior Designer and Manager of an Interior Design company in Asia and the Middle East, specializing in residential design. When you design for people’s homes, it is imperative that you take into consideration their preferences, their personalities, and the unique ways the family moves around their spaces. Ultimately you create a design that reflects the special qualities that are specific to the family that lives there, so that it forms their foundation to call home.

This is the same way I approach designing the Workplace Experience of a company. It isn’t made up of a collection of design elements, activity spaces, workplace space planning, cafeterias and food pantries that are inspired from other offices worldwide. It is imperative that the company’s entire Workplace Experience is a reflection of their own unique culture, personality, values and mission, so that it belongs squarely to them.

The interior design of a workplace is an essential component of the Workplace Experience because it defines not just the physical aspects of a space, but also how people move (and therefore behave) within it. However just like all components of a Workplace Experience – food services, sports and recreation, employee concierge services, transportation services, etc. – it is only a part of the whole. Workplace design, however enticing and stunning, is not the same as a Workplace Experience.

When one speaks of having an “experience”, they are reacting to stimulus from a variety of human senses all at once: experiencing a roller coaster ride is the physical rushing sensation linked with seeing the terrifying winding track ahead of you and hearing the thunderous roar of the tracks and the shrieks of petrified passengers, with the wind pushing against your face. Alternatively, experiencing a Michelin star de gustation dinner is an experience most would define through the taste buds. But this experience is always complemented with visually striking food arrangements, with guests set against warm ambient lighting and elegant background music, and the experience capped off with exceptional waiter service, making that fat check at the end worth every minute.

Such is the same at the workplace, and the interior design of the space has a huge effect on how it is experienced by those within it. This is why the design is such an important element: the appropriate lighting, where and how workspaces are located, inspirational design elements, color, to the sound engineering of soft vs. hard furnishing and finishes – these all have a significant effect on both the conscious and subconscious mind of the user. However, the physical workplace is not all that makes up today’s Workplace Experience, because there is so much more to reflecting a company’s culture, personality and values.

Let’s take the interior design of a family’s home for example. Design elements will include all aspects previously mentioned, but does it fully represent their unique lifestyle? What kind of food do they eat and what do they feed their children? Do they have a set bed time, do they have story time or do Nannies put the children to bed? Do they like to entertain guests and hold quiet or loud parties? Do they have animals in the house, and do they allow them to sleep and eat with them? What are their house rules – do you have to take off your shoes when you enter the house? What photos and memorabilia do they like to display around their house? Is there a religious altar in the corner, with incense burning? These are all aspects that define the unique qualities and values of the family that lives in that space, and if you are a visitor to their home, (especially if you are a house guest for a weekend), you will quickly get a feel for their personality and values as a family. All of this is seen and felt, beyond the design of the house.

Likewise, a Workplace Experience reflects all aspects that define the qualities and values which a company upholds – from the time you walk into the corporate office (your reception services), to where and how you work (workplace design and technology features), how you meet and collaborate (conference rooms, open area meeting spaces, coffee stations, workplace bars), how you generate ideas and take care of yourself (food service spaces with appropriate food choices, corporate gym, outdoor walking tracks or exercise spaces, recreation or game spaces, sleep pods, inspirational rooms), how you communicate your ideas (internal communication processes and avenues), to how you go home (shuttle services). And as you can see, with all the many aspects that define the experience, each touchpoint will be a reflection of the company’s core values, personality and mission.

Therefore, it is not enough to say that you have a great looking and effective workplace design. That alone does not create an experience for your employees, guests and business partners. And as visually impressive as it may be, interior design alone cannot reflect the totality, complexity, nor uniqueness of your corporate culture. Just as the house alone cannot reflect what actually makes it your home.

Is a growl and a bark the same as Hello?

183:758185458 (Leni Rivera) — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 16:22:31 GMT

The importance of the Reception Area to a Workplace Experience.

Across all cultures, when you first meet someone, there is a gesture of greeting – a smile, a handshake, a bow, or even just a hello. When you write an introductory letter (or email or message) to someone you have yet to meet, careful thought is put into the first line of greeting and salutation before diving into the heart of the message. When you go on a first date, so much emphasis is put on your appearance, hygiene and behavior. All of this is important when you first meet someone because as human beings, we all recognize the significance of a first impression.

In business, regardless of the size of your company, the significance of a first impression is even more relevant. The right impression on all potential and existing business relationships with partners, investors, customers and employees is crucial to establishing a lasting relationship . This pertinent truth exists across all industries and cultures, with virtually no exception.

So then why is it that I have seen time and time again that the very gateway to this first impression of a company’s home base, is given so little attention?

Traditionally, reception areas are manned by security personnel. Today, nearly all office reception areas are still set up this way because of course the safety and security of the company’s people and business are invaluable. But what message do you think this sends to visitors? It is comparable to allowing your body guard to greet all your friends and potential business partners for the first time before you do. Or setting up a guard dog right outside your front door. Although well intended for those on the inside, the subliminal message it sends to visitors is “You are not one of us. Keep out.” This is true even if the security personnel are friendly and personable. Even the friendliest of guard dogs will yield an air of caution as you approach them. There is no escaping the understanding of its primary purpose.

Additionally, many reception areas are cold and uninviting. Guests are made to approach a large desk area, are asked for information and many times need to provide identification, and then are asked to wait. Returning contractors, business partners and employees on the other hand, whisk out a badge that is either displayed for security or tapped at the entrance door . Once again, the subliminal signal is clearly made to all visitors waiting to be let in: “You are not one of us. Keep out.” But this process is a routine most of us are so unaware of, it has simply become robotic.

This is why nobody ever thinks to change the system. It’s so routine in every building, and keeping the front doors safe is such a logical decision. So why fix it?

Because like everything else in this incredibly fast-changing tech-generation, the development and enhancement of human experience is everything.

First of all, there have been vast improvements in safety and security technologies and such innovations render having to station security personnel in spaces as no longer necessary. This isn’t to undermine their significance in any way, but they no longer need to be a visible element in reception spaces. If on the other hand, the positioning of physical security is a matter of strategy, then be deliberate and position them as exactly that: security. A separate element from the reception of visitors.

Just as all elements of the workplace experience stems from your corporate culture, such is the case with the reception areas. Remember that whether you like it or not, the reception gateway is both the first and the last thing that your visitor as well as employees will experience, and this is why it’s so important to give it focus. Workplace Experience is the only tangible aspect of a company’s culture, and therefore where it starts and where it ends is as crucial to the experience as all the elements within it.

I have had extensive experience in the creation of reception areas that for both companies that I have run and companies for which I’ve designed a bespoke workplace experience. But for now, I will refrain from providing advice and examples from my experience because I want to emphasize the concept first. I continue to walk into multiple reception areas of many company offices in both Asia and the US, and have found time and time again that most companies miss this significant aspect. But as unique as your personal appearance, fashion, style and hygiene is to you as you get ready to give that first impression on your first date, so should the company’s reception area be as unique to its own culture and personality.

I am happy to give advice on this topic, just reach out!

Investing in Workplace Experience

183:758185458 (Leni Rivera) — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 01:49:25 GMT

Why this investment is no longer an option.

People have asked me what my advice is for smaller companies, or for companies who “don’t have the budget” for a Workplace Experience.

Allow me to answer this through a point made by the CFO and Co-president of Workday (a company among the top 10 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2018), Robynne Sisco. She cited that two thirds of her company’s cost are on manpower, and therefore focus on this investment just makes logical and financial sense. She stressed the time-proven equation: happy employees = happy customers = better profits = happy shareholders.

This is the case for most companies, regardless of size. Wouldn’t you want to make the most out of your company’s largest investment?

Shamim Mohammad, SVP and CIP of CarMax (a company also included among the 2018 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For), pointed out that in order to achieve your business strategy, you need to be able to attract, develop and retain the right talent. And that the only way you can do that is to cultivate a corporate culture. “Great culture is no longer an option.”

The reason why cultivating a great corporate culture is many times brushed aside as being “unimportant” is because it is so difficult to do, and requires consistency and conscious effort across the entire company. But if you think that your company can survive without a culture, you may be in for a surprise.

To continue to quote from Robynne Sisco, “Every single company has a culture. The question isn’t whether you have a culture. The question is who’s defining the culture? Are you going to just let it happen? Or are you going to be intentional about it, and drive a culture that will help your business be more successful?”

The company called Great Place to Work conducts the largest employee survey in corporate America, interviewing over 5 million employees from over 6,000 companies in 55 countries, and their statistics from 2016 to 2017 reveal that companies which focus on providing a great corporate culture achieved 26% revenue growth, versus 5.5% revenue growth by the best performing companies who don’t.

Statistics already exist which prove that investing in your employees through providing a great corporate culture increases corporate revenues, and retains the best talent. Here’s a clincher: do you know who else is fully aware of this? Your competition.

Today’s most talented workforce is no longer interested in working for a compnay because of the compensation package and benefits, they need to feel personally invested in its mission.

Great Place to Work’s CEO, Michael Bush, said in a keynote address in a Workday Rising summit earlier this year, “You want to be connecting people to the strategy of the company all the time. When people say ‘I’m working too many hours, I need work-life balance’, our research has proven their work has no meaning. Because when peoples’work have meaning, they’ll work 80 hours a week and say ‘I’m tired. I’m fatigued. But that was a hell of a week!’. That’s what happens when the work has meaning.”

The importance of a corporate culture cannot be emphasized enough. Workplace Experience is the tangible, physical translation of this culture. You cannot have a culture that exists in programs and technology, but is not supported by the workplace environment. As the interior spaces and elements of your own home define the personality and dynamics of your family, so does the corporate workplace define the company’s. Therefore investing in a workplace that expresses, encourages, and supports the company’s culture is, like the culture itself, not an option.

And so here is my advice for companies who “don’t have a budget” for Workplace Experience:

Let me start by emphasizing that Workplace Experience is not about spending on subsidized food or a corporate gym or a game room in the office. Workplace Experience is an extension – a manifestation – of your corporate culture. Don’t make the mistake by thinking that providing workplace “perks” will compensate for having a culture. That’s like saying you want to achieve the look of being physically fit without actually undergoing any physical effort.

Your company has already developed its own culture, whether you are cognizant of it or not. I advise you to start with that. Become deliberate about defining the culture of your organization. Determine who you are as a company and how that translates to who you are to your customers as well as your employees.

If you stay authentic to that, you will find that the physical workplace – its environment and all its features – will simply fall squarely into place. Many times, it won’t even cost what you initially thought; but always, the dedicated investment into your employee’s experience will yield triumphs and successes that not only have been statistically proven, they may even surprise you.

The relationship between Workplace Experience and Employee Experience

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

In 2015, Airbnb first shook the industry when its then head of Human Resources, Mark Levy, changed his title to Chief Employee Experience Officer. This marked the beginning of crafting a dedicated "experience" for a company's employees, and paved the way for people like me who are dedicated to enhancing the experience of people's journeys in the workplace.

But what is the difference between Employee Experience and Workplace Experience?

As Jacob Morgan revealed in his Feb. 1, 2016 article for Forbes.com (Jacob himself being a leading authority on Employee Experience), Mark Levy saw the opportunity to regard employees as the company’s customers. He wrote, “When Mark joined Airbnb, the Human Resources functions were split into multiple groups, including talent, recruiting and a group called “ground control,” which was responsible for the workplace culture. There was talk of bringing the departments together and Mark questioned, "If Airbnb had a Customer Experience Group, why not create an Employee Experience Group?" The Employee Experience was then created with new specializations, such as compensation and benefits, facilities and a food and beverage program.”

The idea of focusing on an exceptional experience for employees throughout the entirety of their journey with the company was revolutionary at the time. For Airbnb, the driving force behind this idea was their corporate mission to “create a world where everyone feels like they belong.”

By advocating this mission internally, Airbnb created an experience for their employees which undeniably made them feel like they themselves belong. This authenticity of course emanated out to customers, and the results brought impressive successes for the company, both financially and culturally.

It is no easy undertaking to translate this mission-driven culture throughout an entire company, especially one with office locations around the world. At Airbnb, their “ground control” group is deployed to their worldwide locations, and dedicated to ensuring that the employee experience culture thrives in every site.

But of all of the aspects surrounding the Employee Experience, the one area which is able to provide a visible and physical translation of the company’s culture – anywhere they are in the world – is the workplace, and the specific experience this space offers.

At Airbnb for example, each of their conference rooms in their San Francisco office (as well as their offices around the world) is inspired by one of their actual listings in another part of the world, and the actual photo of the listing is hanging outside the door of the respective conference room. They also provide employees with 3 free healthy meals a day, the menu for which is also based on actual listings or a country where their listings are based. This workplace experience completes the narrative of the company’s specific culture for the employees.

Therefore, Workplace Experience is an aspect of Employee Experience, and an imperative one, as it is the only aspect that provides a physical representation or translation of the company’s culture.

As such, it carries the ability to affect employees through all senses (sight, sound, taste, touch and smell), thus conveying the corporate culture in an impactful way.

Workplace Experience and Employee Experience go hand in hand, where the former supports the latter, and with both acting as channels through which a company’s unique culture is championed.

How Workplace Experience will revolutionize company structures, at long last.

183:758185458 (Leni Rivera) — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Shifting the focus and company resources from the top-tier decision makers to the tech-savvy work force is what will drive your company to delivering business innovations you've never dreamed of.

The true significance of Workplace Experience is that it has begun to revolutionize the way corporations put value on their workforce; more specifically, their younger workforce.

All 3 companies that I worked for had leaders who espoused the belief that “the number of years you have on this earth is directly proportional to how much more knowledge you have than anyone else in the company.” In other words, “because I’m older, therefore I know more than you.”

For me, this is the most exciting change in our times. Any company that continues to espouse that belief is in for a big surprise. I’ll give you the reason in one word: Technology.

As a Generation Xer myself, I am acutely aware of the fact that most people born before 1980 view technology with both wonder and appreciation, and sometimes with a little annoyance. We use technology in our daily lives, and are either in awe of the new technological innovations (in both software and hardware), and/or incredibly inconvenienced by having to learn something new – again! But on the whole, we understand its significance and are appreciative of its presence in our lives and in the workplace.

Millennials on the other hand, those that were born between 1981 and 1996 are not quite so awe-struck when it comes to technology. (To give you some perspective, the world wide web was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989.) These individuals view life and the world around them through technology . It is as much a part of their daily existence as a wrist watch was for ours: it’s just a matter of fact by which everyone simply leads their lives.

Technology is so engrained in this generation in fact, that its influence in every aspect of their lives is an understatement – from the way they communicate, interact and influence others, to the ways in which they draw their own inspirations and information. All of this leads to a natural desire to create and innovate, and to be part of something larger than themselves – as is the world of technology.

The amazing thing about technology is that it is the one industry that cuts across every single other industry in the world. There is no industry that isn’t improved or influenced by technology. Manufacturing, medicine, schools, human resources, architecture, government service, you name it. Technology is also the fastest growing industry of our time. Every generation alive today can appreciate the rapid pace with which technology is growing and changing.

This is why it is safe to say that the generations entering the workforce after the Millennials will have an even broader influence and understanding of the uses of technology. This includes every toddler you see in restaurants today who instinctively know to tap or swipe the tablet computer propped up before them.

This cycle of younger generations being more fluent with technology than their predecessor proves my point that the once-popular belief that “the older you are makes you smarter than anyone else,” is not only severely outdated, it is no longer true.

As of 2017, 35% of America’s workforce alone are Millennials, making them “the largest generation in the U.S. labor force,” according to a Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Traditional corporate structures put the emphasis on the top-tier leaders for decision-making throughout the company. I’m not saying that these leaders are not significant – surely their experience in the company’s industry and culture plays a significant role in directing decisions. However traditional communication and influence methods, both inside out outside the company (i.e. marketing channels, internal communication methods, collaboration styles with business partners, program and project management styles, even business innovation models) need to adapt to the ever-evolving world of technology. And the only ones equipped with the skills to do this are the younger workforce.

If companies don’t learn to shift their focus and resources on the constant influx of younger tech-savvy generations, they will quickly fall sharply behind their competitors who do .

This is why companies in the fast-paced tech industry have all already embraced this new structure, and why they are the first to invest in Workplace Experience. They get it. And the incredible pace with which they are propelling new innovations every day is proof that they’re doing something right.

My Workplace Experience experience

183:758185458 (Leni Rivera) — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 19:47:10 GMT

Little did I know when I began my role operating facility services, that I would eventually stumble upon establishing the industry I love in the Philippines.

When I first started working for the Property Services Group as the Head of operations for facility and corporate services of my previous company, I had no idea that it would be the start of a future life calling.

As with all my previous roles, I walked in with my bubbly can-do attitude and excitedly set to work. At the time I began, I had 5 departments to manage, but in just a few years my area grew to 13 departments, with so many other side responsibilities I lost track of how many areas I was really handling. It didn’t really matter, I was just so happy to be doing what I love.

The company is privately owned and the largest of its kind in the country. It is proudly a Filipino-run company dedicated towards improving the health and wellness of Filipinos, and as such is deeply rooted in Philippine tradition and culture. At the time I was working there, it was home to over 3,000 employees stationed nationwide, with about half of them situated in the head office.

Right from the start, I was deeply moved by the company’s noble mission, and my instincts kept telling me how great it would be to somehow put it at the forefront in their head office facility, for all employees to celebrate and for all guests to appreciate. But how do I bring an intangible spirit into a tangible space?

I was very fortunate to have a manager that was incredibly supportive of my crazy ideas and even weighed in on them and encouraged me to be creative. So, this very first crazy idea eventually resulted in the creation of a specialized greeting.

It sounds so simple, but I felt it would have a great impact. We trained all the facility front liners – all security personnel, cleaners, waiters, receptionists, maintenance crew, and including all of us in the Property Services Group – to greet all employees and guests with a unique and very Filipino greeting. Instead of the customary “Good morning” and “Good afternoon”, everyone in the corporate center would hear instead “ Kamusta Po ” (a traditional greeting that translates to “How are you, Sir/Ma’am”). The result was an entire head office facility with a pulse that was uniquely Filipino, which radiated throughout all facets of the space, and evoked a special pride in both being Filipino and in serving the Filipino people.

Another important aspect about the Filipino culture is the custom of eating together. As such, the Food & Beverage department was my largest operations, feeding over 3,000 people a day. We had one of the largest corporate cafeterias, with a hotel-standard kitchen serving heavily subsidized lunch to employees (which cost less than a penny), a subsidized buffet in the waiter-serviced executive dining lounge (for 20 cents per person), catering services for an average of 30 functions per day, and serving snacks and beverages to all meetings in all conference rooms daily. It was a huge undertaking, but certainly the heart of our operations.

In order to further enhance this culture of celebrating food, we hosted different events which made eating more festive and fun. In the cafeteria, we had lively music, offered featured deserts and unlimited rice, and hosted many product launches with freebies and giveaways. In the executive dining lounge, we created an event called Around the World in 30 Tuesdays, featuring the flavors and feel of a different country every week – highlighted throughout the variety of food courses, in special-made non-alcoholic cocktails, in the décor, music, and table information cards.

I knew food was an integral part to the culture of the company, but refused to settle with just serving it. My wonderful team found the opportunity to use food as a way to create an experience enhancing this special quality of the culture.

Creating events and special programs for each of my departments soon became one of my main thrusts. I realized that a facility that is clean, well maintained but empty is like a having a house without a home. And a workplace where employees merely came to work, felt to me like I wasn’t doing them justice. I wanted to create an environment that wasn’t just a place, but an experience. And I wanted it to belong to the company alone, so it needed to reflect who they are.

One of the challenges that came up within the latter years, was when more and more product managers wanted to advertise their products within the facility. To allow this would mean having a corporate environment filled with different posters and banners and booths all throughout the year, which was contrary to the company’s vision for the look & feel of their corporate headquarters. But at the same time, I understood the need to advertise the company products to employees.

This was how I came to open a new department, called Events Services. This department’s focus was to create a happy middle ground for product managers to advertise, as well as to support all events held in the corporate center, but at the same time maintain the integrity of the headquarters’ look & feel.

The “happy middle ground” we developed for the product managers was to host month-long events, held quarterly, and designed to create a more engaging way to advertise their products to employees. The Events Services team developed, constructed and operated the events in coordination with the product managers. Once a week during that month, the event would be highlighted with engaging festivities - food and drink stations (at discounted prices), games and activities, music, themed vendors (selling items also at discounted prices) and special stands for the various product teams to advertise and talk about their products.

The result of all these efforts and "crazy ideas" was a corporate center that was alive and active, with employees constantly looking forward to the next event, activity and program within all the aspects of their workplace. And because the corporate center was filled with specially created activities that reflected the company’s very own culture and spirit, this well-maintained facility turned into a workplace experience, which was celebrated by all those who were welcomed inside.

What is Workplace Experience?

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

If you've never heard of this industry before, you're not alone. It's only been around in the last decade, with its roots and pulse in the San Francisco bay area, and it's revolutionizing the way companies operate today.

A Workplace Experience is exactly what the name implies – your experience as an employee in your workplace. This covers all aspects in your work environment: how your desk and the workstations are arranged; whether you are provided with great food and drink choices, a gym, fitness classes, game rooms, laundry service; having effortless access to an environment that supports your working habits – from private conference rooms to collaboration lounges to all-day cafes to seating areas under your favorite tree.

The decision that a company makes on whether to provide any or none of these services is deeply rooted in its specific culture. This is why not all workplace experiences are the same, and why they shouldn’t be.

All companies have the common desire to attract and retain the best talent in the industry. But the best companies are also fully aware of who they are, where they want to go, and how they plan on getting there. They are fully cognizant of their mission. This is what determines their company’s culture.

It is vital to every company that their workplace experience reflects their unique culture. This is so that the connection is very clear between what the company says externally and what it does internally. This integrity is what employees are not only attracted to, but becomes the roots to which they align their own personal missions.

My favorite examples through which to explain this are with the tech giants, Google and Apple.

When I went to visit Googleplex, I fell among the millions who were astounded by their workplace environment. Entering the complex felt more like entering a college campus. Employees were walking around in T-shirts and sneakers, and many were outside with fitness trainers in the middle of exercise routines. Their signature playful primary colors were splashed everywhere, from building facades to outdoor furniture to common-use bicycles. Inside were cafeterias and cafes and micro-kitchens filled with a wide a wide variety of food and beverage choices – all free of charge to employees and their guests. They had a fully equipped gym with showers and locker rooms, a laundry area with washers and dryers, game rooms, classes and activities for anything from guitar-playing to meditation, and subsidized massages and haircuts. As for the work atmosphere, when I interviewed employees they told me that unless you’re working on a specific project, most of them are encouraged to explore and experiment and research and discover, with very little emphasis on serious deadlines. This is not to say that they don’t deliver extraordinary work within set timelines. They just seem to be under less pressure, with the focus placed equally on the process as on the end goal.

Google’s workplace experience, stimulated with playful colors, multiple perks designed to inspire creativity, and a university-like environment which elicits casual collaborations, harmoniously supports its work culture which places its focus on research, development of new ideas and collaborative experimentations with new innovations.

Apple, on the other hand, is a company that prides itself in unparalleled excellence in design, user experience and innovative solutions that drive an almost cult-like following for all of their products. Their equally-famous headquarters, Apple Park, is an architectural landmark, but by contrast, the public will “probably never” be allowed inside for a tour, according to Apple CEO Tim Cook in an interview with the Business Insider in February this year. The reason, he cites, is because they have “ so much confidential stuff around.” Photos and videos of the headquarters however, reveal a physical environment that reflects their signature excellence in design, with sleek lines, contemporary finishes, immaculate white or glass walls, and entirely devoid of color outside of the splash of living greenery. There are beautifully designed cafes, but there is no free food offered on a daily basis here. Food and beverage are subsidized however, and payment is easy through Apple Pay. In fact, in addition to receiving Apple products as part of their work tools, one of the most coveted perks for employees is the great corporate discount on all Apple products, with discount options for their family and friends too. There may be no gym and fitness training in many of the office buildings, but they provide credit for gym membership and they've opened separate Fitness Centers. The software engineers that I spoke with have told me that in Apple, the focus is on the design and the user experience, with engineers who then support these elements through intelligent creation and careful attention to detail. There is always a sharp focus on deadlines and confidentiality with most teams in Apple, and this focus is a shared devotion (competition in this field is fierce after all, so the protection of company secrets and the timely release of their newest products and iOS updates is an imperative commitment).

Once again, this company’s workplace experience harmoniously supports its work ethic and culture. Any potential employee with an appreciation and drive for excellence in their industry and who unfalteringly stands behind Apple’s mission and their products, would thrive in this work-focused environment.

These are two giants in the tech industry, each with its own specific company mission and culture which are reflected inherently in the workplace experience they offer their employees. It would be both ingenuine and ineffective if they shared exactly the same workplace experience. Employees would not be able to espouse the company’s culture nor stand behind its mission, if they do not experience it for themselves in the environment in which they are expected to perform.

This is why Workplace Experience is so important for companies to get right. It’s not about simply providing free food or subsidizing gym membership, it’s about reflecting their corporate culture in their work environment, so that by experiencing it first hand, employees become the company’s biggest and most important allies in achieving its mission.