Workplace Health & Wellness is not the future, but the present.

First question: Why Hybrid Work has turned out Vacant Offices in certain organisations around the world?

Well, the truth is: as we stand on the cusp of a new era, the landscape of work is undergoing a transformation like never before. The traditional 9-to-5 office grind is giving way to a flexible, technology-driven future that redefines where, when, and how we work. Amidst these changes, one aspect remains constant: the paramount importance of health, safety, and wellness in the workplace.

Numerous global enterprises are currently grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the issue of vacant office spaces. This underscores the escalating significance of workplace experience managers.

The Future Forum Pulse has surveyed 10,569 knowledge workers across the U.S., Australia, France, Germany, Japan and the U.K. between July 28 and August 10, 2021 and displays relevant data to be considered by business decision-makers towards strategies in the workplace.

Future-Forum-Pulse-Report-October-2021.pdf

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Image: Percentage of knowledge workers who say they are open to looking for a new job within the next year, by country. Source: Future Forum Pulse

Image: Schedule Flexibility Feel. Source. Future Forum Pulse

Merely being physically present at the office does not necessarily translate to enhanced productivity; it mainly signifies surface-level performance. Individuals might fulfill their job responsibilities, but they could be doing so while contending with stress and dissatisfaction. Consequently, the overall results might not be as favourable as anticipated, and end up n real vacant workstations.

Why do employees want to stay able to work from home?

The driving forces are diverse and this overview delves into these motivations, uncovering the essence of the remote work format.

• Lack of Office Amenities: Some employees might be resistant to returning to offices that lack amenities related to health and wellness.

• Fear of Burnout: Employees might fear that returning to the office could lead to burnout or decreased work-life balance.

• Health Concerns: Ongoing concerns about virus transmission and safety in shared office spaces can discourage employees from returning to offices.

• Better Lifestyle: Remote work has allowed employees to move away from urban centres and live/work in areas that offer a better quality of life.

• Transportation Concerns: Crowded public transportation, lack of convenient transportation options, home far from the office, traffic jam and lack of healthier modals such as bicycle parking in the commercial building can deter employees from returning to the office.

• Productivity: Many employees have found that they can be just as productive, if not more, when working remotely because they have more access to health, well-being, functional environment that allow them to better manage their time.

• Childcare and Family Responsibilities: Especially parent workers prioritise quality time with their loved ones and at home – or anywhere closer than the office – they can better manage family needs.

Ways to spontaneously welcome staff back

With this shift comes an increased emphasis on health, safety and wellness within the workplace. Companies are reimagining their physical spaces to make people feel valued, supported, safe, and ultimately, have their autonomy preserved.

Yet, it's not just about the tangible measures. The future workplace is evolving into an ecosystem that promotes the well-being of its occupants. Employee health is not just a checkbox, it's a core value. Forward-thinking organisations are investing in comprehensive health and wellness programs that cater not only to physical health but also to mental and emotional well-being.

What should be considered before (thinking of) refurbishing the workplace

The implementation of health and wellness strategies needs to start from a deep initial analysis to understand tasks, needs, and ideal work environments for them. Neglecting a user-centric approach misses a crucial opportunity and requires authenticity for success. Must-have steps which can - should - be undertaken:

· Identifying

· Quantifying

· Analysing - Decision Making

· Designing a Workplace Health & Wellness project

· Post-Occupancy Evaluating

It is always and 100% worth it to invest in this matter, however an effective user-centric evaluation with the right questions created by specialists gives valuable valuable insights for more informed decisions: is it worth it to redesign the current office? Should we downsize? Should we adapt to co-working space which better addresses our staff needs?

Good to clarify: downsizing is not downgrading

Image: WeWork headquarter. Source: WeWork

Sometimes, that is the way. The truth is that a stigma still exists regarding employers adopting coworking spaces or downsizing tenancies. This shift might appear as downsizing, implying a loss of status or influence. Yet, this move could actually enhance organisational efficiency.

An illustration of this shift is seen in ANZ Banking Group, a major Australian company. In 2019, ANZ relocated its Melbourne-based workforce of approximately 1,200 employees to a WeWork coworking space, showcasing a progressive approach to workspace adaptation.

The physical environment is part of our human nature

Our physical environment profoundly impacts us due to our intrinsic relationship with nature. Our bodies are synchronised with natural rhythms, regulating crucial functions like sleep and hormones. The cues of the physical environment modulates our life.

Deviations from these rhythms, often seen in modern urban settings. We spend 90% of our lifes in indoor spaces, missing fundamental opportunities to access to daylight, have integration with nature, move our bodies, etc. This reality compromises our integral body functions.

Additionally, we devote around a third of our adult lives to workspaces, which can be labeled as an long-occupation space and, consequently have higher chances to lead its impact into health a long-term future. Creating environments aligned with our innate needs enhances well-being and acknowledges our biological rhythms. In essence, workplace health and wellness are enduring qualities that shape our perception of organisations.

Cundall did WELL and shows investing in workplace a health & wellness pays back (very quickly, though)

Image: Cundall London Heardquarter. Source: WELL

The WELL Building standard is an evidence-based standard which contains design parameters, policies and programs of health and well-being in the built environment. Cundall was the first company in Europe to be WELL certified, in 2016. The manager at the project front said that the focus on wellness that WELL brings feels like a requisite in today’s employment market.

It is a large company, therefore this pioneer headquarter in UK invested the high amount of €850,000 (or roughly $1.5 million USD) in the project. The custom joining materials cost €3,000. Even though it seems to be a lot, they could achieve the return on the investment in only 3 months. There was a 27% drop in staff turnover (saving 132,500 euros) and 50% lower absenteeism (saving 97,745 euros) compared to the previous year.

“Diligence and data have sparked Cundall’s brand across the world. At a WELL event in Hong Kong, a crowd with a 25-person waitlist heard Cundall’s Global Head of Sustainability, Amie Shuttleworth, explain: ‘Cundall London demonstrated a positive ROI outcome from WELL within three months merely by calculating their reductions in sick leave and attrition without any accounting for all the other benefits’.”

(https://resources.wellcertified.com/articles/cundall-office-one-carter-lane/)

Far from a Bandwagon Effect, Australia is collecting results and leading by the example

Notably, Australia has emerged as a frontrunner in WELL building certification for certified commercial real estate. The country stands in the third position globally in terms of certified space per square meter, only behind the USA and China, and ranks fourth in the number of projects—a testament to its commitment. Names like Arup, CBRE, Frasers Property Australia, Interface, Mirvac, Lendlease, NextPlace, and others have proudly earned WELL certifications, positioning Australia at the forefront of this movement. However, even not after a certification, Companies in Australia like Google, Canva, Telstra and REA Group have been indeed applying workplace health and wellness strategies within their organisations as a raise of awareness and inclusion in their ESG planning.

In a Nutshell

Image: WELL Concepts and data overview. Source: WELL

We can safely anticipate that leaders who disregard employee needs and neglect workplace health and wellness measures risk talent loss and high expenses. Conversely, leaders who listen, implement such measures, and lead by example create productive and magnetic environments.

Workspaces are increasingly utilised to fulfil organisational business, brand, and cultural goals, while also tackling wider societal challenges like loneliness, isolation, mental health, and climate issues. By comprehending the impact of specific workplace attributes on people, organisations can set priorities that guide more informed decision-making processes.

Looking after people is not just a gesture. It effectively generates productivity, revenue, and profits. Workplace health & wellness means treating people like people, not just numbers - and it does pays off.