31 Jan How Office Design can Help you Attract Talent
Attracting and retaining top talent is one of the biggest challenges of the post-pandemic business world. Whilst we might not be technically post the COVID-19 pandemic, the business sphere is unrecognizable from the pre-pandemic landscape of two years ago.
We are now living in the so-called ‘Great Resignation’ – a time where record numbers of employees are leaving their employment due to stress, burn-out and future uncertainty. According to the United States Department of Labor, a record 4.5 million American workers quit their jobs in November 2021, and employers posted 10.6 million job openings in the same month.
So with the war for talent underway, it’s essential to stand out from the market and offer employees real reasons to work for you. Corporate culture isn’t about dictating terms anymore: it’s about building mutually beneficial relationships that foster growth, productivity and a future for both parties.
With many workers feeling detached from physical workplaces, your office is the perfect place to build your company culture and vibe. Whether you’re shifting to hybrid working or bringing your existing office space into 2022, here’s some of the ways office design can help you attract and retain top talent.
Making a lasting first impression
With a fresh, dynamic working environment that’s designed to meet the needs of your people, you’ll create a valuable workplace that amplifies your brand personality. If you’re carrying out interviews in your workplace, prospective employees should be able to clearly understand exactly who you are.
From signage and decor, right through to bespoke furniture and tech; your workplace should speak volumes about your company and create excitement around your brand. It’s important to maximize the impact of signage, display walls, reception areas and shared spaces to create a compelling story of your company. That way, you’ll stand out and have the best start in attracting talent and retaining top talent for the long haul.
Promoting activity-based working
If you want the next generation of talent to be excited about working with you, then you need to understand what makes them tick. Activity-based working is a style that recognizes that people perform a wide range of activities in their day-to-day work, and creates a workplace that facilitates these tasks.
Consider a diverse range of spaces that your people need: interactive boards for brainstorming, team meeting rooms, hives, lunch spaces, Zoom rooms or just somewhere to grab a quick coffee. Providing a range of spaces promotes healthy communication patterns that the next generation of talent expect and require from an innovative physical workplace.
Creating a wellness-oriented social hub
As increasing numbers of employees feel detached from their employment due to remote working, it’s critical to design a workplace that boosts engagement amongst employees. There’s nothing more invaluable than spontaneous collaboration; those ‘water cooler’ moments that often shape the creative direction of your company. Team that with 45% of workers admitting that they form ‘most of their new friendships in the workplace’, and it’s clear that the social aspect of your workplace is a key pull factor when attracting and retaining top talent.
So what do people want from their physical workplace? Depending on your industry, there’s a plethora of design ideas to promote health and wellbeing for your staff. Biophilia was number one trend in 2021, with green offices bursting with big plant energy proving to be 15% more productive.
But simple things like utilizing light, installing vibrant artwork, opting for bright colors and providing staff with amenities like free hot drinks and meditation spaces attract prospective talent to your workplace.
We hope you’ve found this blog inspiring. The principles discussed form the basis of our new hybrid workplace design service, Workplace Retreat – check it out.
Create your flexible workplace with RI today
RI designs and builds functional, flexible work spaces to foster productivity and build innovative, forward-thinking spaces for your business. We’re here to help you make the right choices and build a platform for future business growth and prosperity.
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