The Annual Claremont Insight Report - Endorsed by FMJ

Developing an effective workplace experience is a balancing act. Trying to get back to some sort of ‘normality’ post pandemic is presenting a significant challenge to many organisations, and right now, many workplaces are out of equilibrium; this may not be a bad thing as it allows organisations to adapt by changing emphasis as required.

How do we embed effective hybrid strategies in the workplace? We still don’t know quite where Hybrid working will settle, opinions are still varying, and it may take a winter with high fuel costs to really determine the continued home/ office balance for a hybrid working model.

What is the optimal mix between home and office working? In the new hybrid world of work, the biggest question facing employers and employees alike is what is the optimal mix between home and office working?

How do we achieve the balance of affordability and sustainability in the workplace? In the consumer sector there is an increase in companies switching their approach to create new value for customers through services that extend a product’s life, rather than making incremental upgrades that encourage people to discard a perfectly decent item for a more desirable — but not dramatically different —new release.

How do you achieve acoustic harmony within the workplace? From our own list of worker niggles, intrusive and distracting noise in the office is consistently high on the list. Many home workers have discovered that the quiet they can experience at home is a benefit to concentration and productivity. On returning to the office the hubbub of the workplace is exacerbated by new communication technologies.

How do we create a timeless workplace? Recent research has uncovered a growing disparity between the working experiences of different generations.

What is the best way to engage with your people? Understanding the opinions, views and perceptions of your colleagues is a crucial component to your workplace change process. Arguably more important than that is the pure act of engaging with your colleagues, ensuring they know that their personal opinions are valued and that they have been listened truly listened to.

Out with the old, in with the new? From employer to employee driven change, organisations are on the back foot struggling to catch up with worker requirements and new ways of doing business. Its important to consider decluttering your organization of the things that most frustrate your people, this could include methods of communication, systems and internal processes to give people more time and space for the things that matter.

Can we make this a Teams call? Virtual meetings became more convenient to schedule and easier to attend during lockdowns, which on some level made them more inclusive and ensured that a wider range of perspectives could be included in decision making.

How to create a client-centric workplace We have certainly discovered that workers believe that they have found a better way to balance their home and work lives. Organisations too have realised that new working practices can deliver cost rationalisation and lead to happier and more productive people.

How much is too much when it comes to Flexibility? While much is written about the preferences of workers, we must consider what is right for the organisation? How do employers have those difficult conversations around the business imperatives of certain teams being present and together in the workplace?

Where is best to invest in your workplace? It is fair to say that pre-pandemic office occupancy rates rarely rose above 65% according to our own surveys (can we put a number here?) but no-one chose to focus on this as our traditional expectations were largely that this was ‘normal’.

How important is it to break the Fast? Eating properly and staying hydrated during the working day can be a bit of a minefield. Then after the quick sandwich at lunch washed down by the 5th coffee of the day, we feel bloated, sluggish, even more irritable, and exhausted.

How can we support employee wellbeing in the workplace? What is great to see, is that in the workplace many organisations, of all sizes and professions, are leading the revolution by taking care of their employees’ health and wellness from both a physical and mental point of view, guiding, leading, nourishing, and empowering their people to thrive and grow.

How do you make your workplace truly inclusive? When we think of D&I, we immediately tend to consider racial diversity, ethnic diversity, gender diversity, age diversity and physical disability. Often, those less visible conditions go largely unrecognised when we consider adjustments to workplace design to increase accessibility and inclusivity.

Our predictions for the future workplace