I often hear from clients and colleagues that they are unable to hire additional positions because they don’t have anywhere to put them. Not having “space” for a position is no reason to hold back the potential of your department. Utilizing technology, trust and rethinking our traditional office environment can catapult you to new opportunities. Over this three part series, learn three ways to implement the office of the future.
In 2017, 43 percent of the U.S. workforce reported they work remotely at least part of the time. That number is up from 39 percent as reported in 2012. When discussing remote working in the campus recreation environment, we often are quick to come up with reasons of why it won’t work. Let’s explore a few reasons why it could work.
Employees are more productive when allowed to work remotely. Working remotely can limit distractions from being in the office environment. Plus, it can allow our team members to focus on the task at hand. According to Gallup, employees can maximize productivity when working remotely 60 to 80 percent of the time. However, working remotely between 81 to 100 percent of the time can decrease employee engagement if dedicated opportunities such as in-person meetings, conferences or other activities are not utilized to promote culture.
Work-life harmony is a newer lens to look at work-life balance. Work-life balance can be assumed to be about separating work from home life. Work-life harmony is dedicated to increasing well-being and employee engagement by having a symbiotic relationship between work and home life. Working remotely can encourage employees to take care of their “home” needs when appropriate while becoming more focused and engaged at work.
In 2015, millennial turnover cost the United States 30.5 billion dollars. Contrary to popular belief, the millennial workforce isn’t jumping ship for the next opportunity that has the next best thing to offer. Many studies and articles continuously tell us people don’t quit jobs; people quit managers and company culture. This scenario is no different in our newer workforce. The desires of the workforce are constantly changing. Consider these changes in leadership from past to future:
According to ACSM Facility Standards and Guidelines, in addition to industry best practices, offices should be between 80 to 100 square feet and not consume more than 1,500 total square feet. Reception spaces should be between 400 to 2,000 square feet or approximately 5 percent of your total square footage, depending on your needs and goals. Depending on your budget, needs, and footprint of building or renovated spaces, you can maximize your physical activity spaces by decreasing the allocation for offices.
With the influx of coworking and shared workspaces popping up across the nation, perhaps there’s a place for this environment in our campus recreation centers. Although drastic changes can be challenging or perhaps alarming to those on the conservative end of the Change Style Indicator, consider how these tips might benefit your department:
Regardless of whether you can jump head first into the remote workforce, consider the possibilities by running an analysis on your department. Stay tuned for Part Two of the series on increased technology and automation systems.
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