50 years later: The new meaning of flex work

50 YEARS LATER: THE NEW MEANING OF FLEX WORK

Pre-pandemic, flexible working was trending, but not universal. Policies often weren’t structured, but there was a decided shift in the workplace culture that at least some remote-working or work-from-home ability was possible. It was a luxury.

Business leaders historically drew varying lines in the sand on flex work policies. On one end of the spectrum, you had all-out bans on at-home work under the premise that being present increases productivity and promotes a more connected company culture (Yahoo). On the other, companies like Automattic were virtual from the beginning giving them access to both talent and opportunity on a global stage before we were ever introduced to the phrase “social distancing.”

After months of working from home, and ‘flexibility’ taking a whole new meaning as people juggle work along with life at home, there’s renewed interest in flexible work strategies in order for companies to safely return to the office. We’ve certainly hit some kind of milestone for flex work in 2020, about 50 years after the concept originated – bringing forth both opportunities and challenges for companies and employees.

It’s no longer a nice-to-have; flexible work is now a must-have feature to support employees, spur productivity, and establish a new way of work.

As we mentioned in the last issue, being present in an office space (in some capacity) is key for many businesses to recover. This will take a digital mindset, in which data plays a central role.

Check out our latest blog post offering 5-ways to use occupancy data in your business.

THE NEW OFFICE PARADIGM

As the world of work evolves, so too must commercial real estate. As David Cairns of CBRE Forward puts it: “It doesn’t matter what the capital markets or landlord community wants, customers want flexibility and service.”

Those two items require embracing Space-as-a-Service: a tenancy model that is procured on demand to provide the space and services needed, when needed. It should be part of every office landlord’s leasing and retention strategy as we embrace the modern day office.

We agree – and predict this evolution will also require companies to rethink the space they do retain in a Dynamic Office model. It will be data-forward, and see office design, resources and services dynamically adjusting to a continually shifting workforce. Check out our blog post for more on this radical transformation to the Dynamic Office.

SMART TECH

There are many rising opportunities in today’s new way of working. Snaile Lockers, for instance, has developed parcel locker solutions for Canadian commercial buildings and co-working spaces so that mail deliveries can be made safely and securely rather than leaving them in a building foyer or for security personnel to manage. These smart lockers work for all postal delivery services!

Cisco and Bell Canada made big news in Toronto recently, bringing free WiFi to underserved communities to address COVID-19 fuelled inequities, as reliable sources of connectivity such as community centres and libraries were forced to close. By year’s end, the hope is to have at least 25 WiFi hotspots in place for one year, connecting up to 13,000 residents to the Internet.

For those using this time to start their own businesses, today Founded.co announced they are officially joining RBC Ventures to bring their all-in-one business registration and incorporation services to more entrepreneurs. If you're starting your entrepreneurial journey, check them out here.

IN OUR SPACE ...

Occupancy data is hot, hot, hot! One of the core metrics we provide to our clients, occupancy data helps retailers automate store occupancy and keep consumer informed of optimal shopping times. For facilities teams, occupancy data not only helps measure and inform office-work policies, but gives employees the information they need to choose the best times to visit the office for their unique needs.
We continue to work with our partners Juniper Mist and Arista Networks to make it easier for clients. Using existing access points, we can reduce the need for additional IoT sensors in the space.