Office Evolution Impacts Employee Engagement

Over the last few years, the image of desirable office space has changed considerably. The goal of rising through the ranks to earn a big corner office is increasingly becoming a thing of the past, as many companies shift from designated offices and cubicles to open workspaces. This transformation reflects a growing trend toward work environments that are more conducive to open communication and collaboration between team members, as well as a focus on condensing office space to reduce rental expenses.

The new concept of office space isn’t just taking hold at technology and marketing firms, or hip restaurants; more conservative industries such as banking and education are increasingly adopting this model. Despite all the benefits of this modern work approach, it’s not for every company, nor for every potential hire. As the improved labor market prompts more companies to hire, more attention will need to be placed on what the office environment communicates about the company culture and employee engagement, and if these messages are being communicated effectively.

Believe it or not, office space, a seemingly minor aspect of work life, is growing in importance, so much that a recent article described a candidate who left a job interview, after catching a glimpse of his/her prospective workspace. “While this may seem like a rare or unlikely occurrence, this is the reality, especially when we consider the wants and needs of a growing Millennial population,” says Suzanne Rice, director of U.S. Franchise Development. “This generation of workers, which the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects will make up 75 percent of the 2030 workforce, wants to immediately get a sense of the office energy, and most importantly, what the company

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culture says about how they will be treated once hired.”

Baby Boomer executives are not immune to these changes. In many companies that prefer an open office environment, the C-Suite is also finding it must deal with smaller work spaces, if not complete elimination of designated office space altogether.

Ultimately, with retention and employee engagement being some of the biggest challenges facing employers today, office space is just a part of the message that organizations can communicate about company culture. Amenities, company-funded perks and team interaction, both inside and outside the office are additional features that have the ability to tell a story about the cultural health of the organization.

It is no longer acceptable to dread coming in to work every day. Top candidates expect to work hard, but they want to have fun doing it, and enjoy the people with whom they work. “When employers include employees in the development and maintenance of the company culture, this creates a real opportunity for them to connect with workers, making it clear that they want them to be active participants in shaping the future of the organization,” adds Rice. “This is where true employee engagement starts, by interfacing with employees, facilitating ongoing, two-way dialogues and communicating this value in the marketplace. Further, this is what can make all the difference to top performers who have multiple job offers, and are faced with deciding whether to join or stay with a company.”

Source: Department of Labor

Submitted by: Joe Cianciolo, Senior Account Manager Management Recruiters of Cleveland-Southwest

>Experts in Global Search

(330) 273-4300 ext. 109 JoeCC@MRCSW.com

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The U.S. experienced a positive labor report for February as the nation continued to move toward a strong employment situation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Not only did the overall employment rate drop, but positions were added to a variety of sectors.

Unemployment rate drops The unemployment rate decreased by .2 percent in February to 5.5 percent. Youth unemployment, a point of concern for the nation, experienced a positive shift as well, dropping by 1.7 percent to stand at 17.1 percent. The number of residents dealing with long-term unemployment remained relatively unchanged at 2.7 million. The civilian labor force participation rate also changed very little, coming in at 62.8 percent.

Gains seen across a variety of industries Overall, the country added a total of 295,000 jobs during February, exceeding the current average monthly gain of 266,000. Food services saw a significant hiring increase, adding 59,000 jobs. The professional and business services sector grew by 51,000 positions. Most of these new jobs were in the technical consulting services, computer systems design and architectural engineering fields.

The construction industry grew by 29,000 positions, most of them in the form of specialty trade contractors. Healthcare services added 24,000 jobs, many of them focusing on ambulatory care and hospitals. The transportation and warehousing sector expanded by 19,000 jobs, mostly couriers and messengers, while the retail industry continued its upward employment trend by adding 32,000 positions. Manufacturing also saw a notable increase of 8,000 jobs.

Industries that saw little change during the month of February include information, financial activities, wholesale trade and government. The mining sector saw a slight loss in its workforce.

Wages up slightly, Federal Reserve rates could increase According to the report, average hourly earnings improved by 3 cents to the current average of $24.78. Despite this only slight improvement, the U.S. dollar reached its highest value in 11.5 years against a number of currencies, reported

Reuters. This general positive growth could inspire the Federal Reserve to hike rates come June, explained the source.

The full Bureau of Labor Statistics report can be downloaded here:

EMPLOYMENT SITUATION REPORT