Issue31

Welcome back to Collective Bookmarks. As we continue to move towards the fall season we hope to see an end to RTO headlines and summer heatwaves. Which one will die out first is yet to be seen. Collective is happy to continue to bring you the latest insights from the world of workplace.

This week’s newsletter is a 6 minute read, or the time it takes to find a lego in the dark after having punctured your foot on it. Collective Bookmarks is sponsored by HQO, the world’s leading workplace experience platform.

In This Week’s Issue:

• Three Things You Should Know
  • The Hottest New Office is the Gym
  • The Whole Building Life-Cycle Approach
  • Employees That Build Value vs Destroy It
• A Person You Should Know: Deniz Besiktepe
• A Product We’re Into: Expansive

Events You Should Attend:

Epoch’s Experience Mix and Mingle in San Francisco

Books We’re Reading: Out of Office by C. Warzel & H. Petersen

As always, if you have feedback or questions please reach out.

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Three Things You Should Know

From The World of Work and Place

1.The Hottest New Office is the Gym

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, gyms are evolving into co-working spaces, catering to the needs of remote workers who seek a blend of fitness and work. Jessica DiGiovanna, an audit project manager, exemplifies this trend by spending her workdays at a Life Time gym’s co-working space. She values the balance between self-care and professional tasks. While some large co-working companies face market challenges, gym owners are capitalizing on the demand for alternative work environments that are both social and convenient. Luxury health clubs are expanding their offerings to include co-working amenities, such as conference rooms with advanced tech and comfortable workspaces. However, some users face challenges, like finding a suitable backdrop for video calls amidst the gym’s bustling activity. The trend underscores a shift in work culture, with employees seeking flexible, hybrid solutions that merge work, wellness, and social interaction.

What We Think: We would be interested to see if more niche co-working spaces like this pop up on the scene soon. For those who always enjoyed getting in a workout between meetings or having health focused amenities, this solution can make a lot of sense. If these spaces have good sound dampening and you can find a decent background for calls, why not give it a try? Just don’t take a zoom call from the squat rack please.

2. The Whole Building Life-Cycle Approach

In her first Collective Thoughts piece, Deniz Besiktepe discusses the built environment and how it plays a pivotal role in shaping society and individual well-being. Key stakeholders in this domain have historically influenced the design and function of these spaces. With the evolution of workplaces, including hybrid and remote settings, the definition of a “workplace” has expanded to include home offices, coffee shops, and libraries. The challenge lies in ensuring these spaces promote well-being and productivity, which requires a collective and holistic approach. Read on below for the rest of Deniz’s awesome first article.

3. Employees That Build Value vs Destroy It

In one of their latest studies McKinsey & Company takes a look at how the pandemic has reshaped the work landscape, leading to challenges for employers in assessing employee effectiveness, especially with the rise of hybrid and remote work models. McKinsey’s research indicates that employee disengagement and attrition could cost a median-sized S&P 500 company between $228 million and $355 million annually. To address this, companies need to recognize the diverse experiences of their workforce and adopt tailored strategies. The research identifies six employee archetypes, ranging from highly dissatisfied “quitters” to super-engaged “thriving stars.” To maximize productivity and well-being, companies should offer flexibility, ensure fair compensation, provide clear career paths, and foster a sense of purpose among employees. As remote and hybrid work models persist, the focus should shift to measuring performance based on outcomes rather than presence.

What We Think: This latest research from McKinsey actually matches very well with Gallup’s state of workplace report from earlier this year. They advised that focusing a companies effort on those employees in the top 3 categories made the most sense. However, we were glad to see McKinsey going a step further and recommending a balanced purpose driven approach that also focuses on outcomes instead of physical presence. One other interesting tidbit was the number of employees who actually were working more than one job (5%). This number is extremely low when we consider just how much attention the trend of over-employement has received. Perhaps over-employement was over represented in media attention.

HqO, ranked No. 75 on the Inc. 5000 list, is transforming how people connect with each other and the places they work. The HqO Workplace Experience Platform and App makes it easy for companies and commercial property teams to create modern workplaces through world-class amenities and services that allow people to thrive and produce the best results. Active in over 250 million square feet in 25 countries, 57% of the Fortune 100 rely on HqO to enhance their workplace experiences, improve employee satisfaction, and drive operational excellence.

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