‘Putting Humans First’ Will Tempt Workers Back

“We have to move away from the traditional office as a big filing cabinet for people.”

So says Lendlease head of futures and environmental psychologist Natalie Slessor, who believes the future of the workplace may be very different to what’s expected.

Lendlease partnered with Leesman to find out what workers wanted from workplaces in the post-pandemic landscape and Slessor said the research showed workplace flexibility was key. 

“Hybrid work is here to stay,” Slessor said. 

The typical office model will undergo a big change with developers and employers thinking differently about what workplaces look like. 

“We are thinking of workplaces rather than offices, and where that can happen apart from within an office—and how it can be supported,” Slessor said. 

“So, working from home but also near-home workplaces where people can work within suburbs and while they are not at home they do not need to commute.”

She said workers remained interested in workplaces outside of their homes and with interaction with others.

▲ Workers say that while working from home has its advantages, many miss the personal interaction of the office.

“We have been working online and in lockdown for so long, but there are soft things like workplace culture that people miss from not being in the office.” 

The research also showed a flight to quality with the expected move of workers to offices that had more amenity but Slessor also highlighted a “flight to humanity”.

“Activated places and well-located—invigorated places stand out even further,” Slessor said. 

“People want to go to places where there are other people.”

It also means developers and employers need to consider what makes workers feel genuinely welcome and supported in workplaces when designing them, with results showing that younger demographics are significantly less engaged with work and the workplace.

“People want to see office spaces that are welcoming and that make them feel included—and that their needs, wants and values have been considered,” Slessor said. 

“Part of that is ensuring that the culture set is also inclusive and considerate. You can’t out-perk a bad boss.”

The research found that younger people want to work at companies that were true to the values that preached and that older employees were coming on board these changing values.

“There is greater transparency now,” Slessor said.

“Generation Z and Generation Alpha have bigger networks and better skills—they can easily find out if a company is living up to its professed values.

“They want to come work at a company that gives them opportunities to be part of social networks, to work on projects that contribute to the community and causes that align with their values.” 

▲ Office amenity is important, but won’t make up for poor management or companies that ignore their workers.

Younger workers also come with an expectation that the workplace will function digitally and do so efficiently and effectively. 

“We have to realise that the office of the future is also going to be in the palm of your hand,” Slessor said. “The digital experience is going to be expected.”

Slessor is one of the presenters at the coming The Urban Developer New Workplace vSummit on Thursday, September 29.

The vSummit will include more than 10 industry experts delivering insightful presentations, case studies and panel discussions delving into the latest research on Australia’s workplaces and their future. 

To register for the event, click here.