How to attract and retain top talent

In today's competitive business landscape, the workplace has become more than a mere physical location. It's now a strategic asset that can significantly impact a company's ability to attract and retain top talent, drive innovation, and achieve key business objectives. As organizations navigate the complexities of new work models and changing employee expectations, creating an exceptional workplace experience has never been more crucial.

The concept of the workplace is rapidly expanding beyond traditional office walls. As JLL’s Future of Work survey shows, employees now expect their work environments to seamlessly blend with public spaces, offering a variety of amenities and experiences. This "street-to-seat" trend focuses on providing an end-to-end experience that encompasses both the office and its surrounding environment and ecosystem.

For corporate occupiers, particularly in the United States, office designs that can support both hybrid and face-to-face work is becoming the norm. Spaces require adaptability, collaborative and private spaces, multi-functional rooms, and integrated technology solutions – all which impact capital expenditure. These investments are crucial for creating workplaces that attract and retain talent, and foster environments where those employees can do their best work.

In the modern workplace, Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) is a practical way to support these new employee requirements. IFM teams, which bring together services such as maintenance, cleaning, security, and space planning into one system, collaborate closely with real estate, HR, and IT departments to create and manage dynamic, flexible spaces that can support various work styles.

To address these challenges, forward-thinking organizations are adopting a comprehensive approach to workplace strategy. This involves analyzing their real estate portfolios to determine the optimal number and location of offices to meet business needs, developing flexible workplace strategies that accommodate hybrid work models, and creating spaces that foster community, collaboration, and connection.

One key aspect of this approach is the implementation of people-first design principles. By combining experience data and user journey mapping with spatial design, branding, and technology integration, companies can improve experiences at all touchpoints within the workplace.

Examples may include creating unique arrival spaces that reflect local cultural references, maximizing natural lighting and spatial quality, and incorporating other elements that enhance employee wellbeing: from air quality and temperature control to ergonomic furniture selection and space utilization analytics.

Technology plays a crucial role in creating exceptional workplace experiences. Despite initial costs, strategic technology investments can lead to significant long-term savings and improved employee satisfaction. Over 75% of corporate real estate leaders are investing in better office technology, including high-definition screens, improved audio systems, and advanced cameras that facilitate seamless collaboration between in-office and remote workers.

Much of this new technology that optimizes the workplace experience is under the purview of a company’s facilities team. IoT sensors for space utilization tracking, AI-powered predictive maintenance systems, and mobile apps that allow employees to book desks, rooms, or even control the comfort of their immediate environment. Bonus: These technologies not only enhance the employee experience but also provide valuable data for continuous improvement of workplace design and management.

Flexibility and adaptability are also key considerations in modern workplace design. Purpose-driven fit-outs that increase flexibility in both layout and furniture solutions allow for daily workspace changes, maximizing the use of potentially reduced office footprints. This approach enhances the employee experience and maximizes return on investment for organizations.

Sustainability is another critical factor in creating attractive workplaces that draw top talent. Organizations have more robust sustainability requirements than ever, and thoughtful design strategies for building refurbishment, adaptive reuse, or retrofit can drive decarbonization while also creating positive social impact and enhancing overall value.

Incorporating circular economy principles, such as upcycling and repurposing furniture, can provide opportunities for unique design solutions and strong visual identity while also appealing to environmentally conscious employees.

The social aspect of the workplace has also become increasingly important, especially as companies encourage employees to return to the office. Collaboration, social interaction, culture, and connectivity are cited as the top reasons for working in the office, for both employees and employers. Therefore, workplace design must look beyond planned collaboration spaces and consider how people interact, form social bonds, and share knowledge throughout offices and other workspaces.

To truly maximize the potential of workplace design, organizations should consider engaging with non-traditional design disciplines, such as business or organizational psychology, in the early stages of workplace transformation strategies. This interdisciplinary approach can inform design strategies that enhance social capital, nurture organizational culture, and support productive teamworking.

As companies navigate the complexities of modern workplace design and project management, it's clear that a well-designed and managed workplace is more than just a nice-to-have; it's a strategic necessity. By creating workplaces that not only attract and retain top talent but also drive business success, organizations can gain a distinct advantage in their market.

The future of work demands a holistic approach to offices and other spaces. By bringing together people-first design, technology integration, flexibility, sustainability, and social connectivity, organizations can create environments that inspire innovation and meaningful collaboration. As the battle for talent intensifies, those who invest in creating exceptional workplace experiences are best positioned to reap the rewards in the form of sustained business success.

To learn more about how the right workplace strategy can help you recruit and get the most out of your talent, fill out the form below for insights from our most recent Future of Work survey.

JLL’s commercial real estate services combine a global platform with trusted local experts across every sector and asset class. Our multi-disciplinary approach includes leasing, design, portfolio optimization, project management, facilities management and other workplace solutions that help you unlock business value through real estate.