Beyond ping pong: How to create magnetic workplaces

The Great Resignation. Quiet Quitting. The Anti-Work Movement. If you’re responsible for any talent acquisition or retention, these phrases may haunt your dreams. The root of it all stems back to how connected employees feel to their work and workplace.

How do you compete for talent – and win the match? Keep reading for the highlights – or fill out the form to read this article with detailed pointers to up your game.

To snag and keep top talent, you have to consider what they want from the entire workplace experience. People Strategy and Workplace Strategy teams work in tandem to create workplaces into vibrant hubs that foster connection, boost productivity and keep your best people from scrolling LinkedIn job postings.

• Data-driven insights from industry benchmarking, employee surveys and utilization rate reports can ensure you start on the (informed) right foot.

• Persona development will help you understand how different teams operate and analyze the spaces and services needed for productivity and employee satisfaction.

• Experience strategy can foster positive experiences at every touchpoint. This may include reimagining office traffic flow and/or you may decide that it’s time to hire a workplace experience manager.

• Align space, technology and culture to seamlessly integrate physical workspaces, digital tools and company culture. Perhaps you’ll update remote work policies, implement new tech or redesign spaces to support various work modes.

• Health and wellbeing focus goes beyond ergonomics and insurance benefits. These days you’ve got a choice in serving up the wellbeing perks and we’ve got some hot takes on what people are expecting after a commute (and what’s just a cherry on top).

• Workplace culture is the biggest draw – or drawback – for top talent. HP’s 2024 Work Relationship Index revealed “Employees value tailored work environments so highly that 87% are willing to accept a 14% pay cut to have it… emphasizing the importance of flexible and personalized work experiences in retaining top talent.”

• Change leadership can make or break your workplace. After all, people leave people – not companies. Leaders are key communicators of transformation, developing and cascading playbooks and policies.

• Implement and iterate to successfully roll out new initiatives, measure impact and continuously refine strategies. It’s crucial to establish metrics to track engagement, productivity and retention over time.

According to Gallup’s “State of the Global Workplace: 2025 Report”, up to US$9.6 trillion could be added to the global economy if employees were fully engaged and productive at the workplace. But here’s the thing: most workplaces are getting it wrong. The global percentage of engaged employees has declined to 21% in 2024. The same survey revealed 50% of employees are already intending to leave their jobs.

“In today's competitive talent landscape, organizations must transform their workplaces into thriving communities to attract high performers and enhance productivity without the burnout,” says Lee Daniels, Global Growth and Innovation Leader at JLL.

Poised to transform your workplace into a magnet for top talent? We help leaders like you create a connected workforce that drives business success. Contact JLL Consulting Services today.

Complete the short form to access the full version of this article and learn how a top-notch workplace strategy can be a serious competitive edge in the race to attract (and keep) top talent.