“There’s no question that the workplace will never quite be the same again,” said Jim Link, the Chief Human Resources Officer of Randstad North America. The pandemic has upended deep-rooted beliefs that the physical workplace is a vital component of an organization’s competitive advantage, and many CHROs and CFOs are reconsidering the role their office has in delivering value to employees and customers alike. The demand for a stronger, evidence-based approach is becoming more apparent, and workplace analytics has taken a more prominent role in delivering insights into what impact, if any, the office has on the bottom line.
Workplace analytics is a structured way to visualize how the built environment, communications, information, and people flow through an organization. Clear patterns often emerge that demonstrate how the office impacts productivity, workforce effectiveness, and employee engagement. In short, it helps leaders understand the real value their office contributes to the success of their organization.
What value does the office provide when the majority of knowledge workers can work remotely? Amidst the pandemic, many organizations are feeling the financial pinch of stagnant economic growth, and are inevitably looking for ways to better manage or reduce costs associated with their real estate footprint. Some executives we have spoken with are planning to scale-back office perks and pause redesigns until the future is better understood. However, as our experience in workplace strategy has taught us, this may not be the best approach since not all perks and spaces are created equal or drive the types of employee behaviors that help organizations reach their goals.
With the help of workplace analytics, it is now possible to understand which aspects of the office contribute to goal achievement, collaboration and innovation, and which aspects are merely relics of the past. For example, “Is the break area or ubiquitous “water cooler” helping drive employee productivity, cross-functional collaboration, knowledge sharing and social cohesion, or is it simply an area employees pass through to grab a quick refreshment?”