In 2015, worldwide management consulting firm McKinsey estimated that the number of knowledge workers around the world would climb 230 million by 2015. Workplace Week London witnesses the new labour market zeitgeist.
Three years on and you will be hard pressed to find an updated guestimate, but Josh Zumbrun, national economics correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, recently reported that,
The number of people in knowledge work jobs has more than doubled in the last 30 years and there’s no sign of it slowing down
Where employees were once paid to produce goods as part of a production line, they are now paid to share their knowledge and ideas. While it is difficult to put a price on ideas, nobody in the business world would doubt their value. As such, the dial is starting to turn from viewing humans as resources to treating employees as consumers, especially when it comes to luring in the next generation of talent.
Rory Murphy, commercial director at Vinci Facilities and board director of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) UK Chapter says,
The workplace experience is increasingly being identified as a key ingredient of employee engagement and satisfaction,” “Not every workplace needs to be cutting edge or funky but workplaces that aid and support the delivery of people’s roles are key to driving productivity and business objectives.
Workplace Week London 2018 took over the capital last week to shine a light on the organisations that are putting much more thought into how they create an excellent workplace experience. More than twenty organisations, including 10 debutants, opened their doors to the public for the very first time, including some of the world’s biggest banking, travel, technology, media, creative and professional services firms. Andrew Mawson, founder or AWA and creator of Workplace Week, says,
Workplace Week was created in 2011 to showcase how business leaders and their facilities, people services and workplace teams can champion change in order to improve engagement, productivity, wellbeing and business performance. Over the years, the week has explored how organisations are using workplace change as a tool for business transformation by embracing new, modern approaches to work to help people be at their best.
Following 28 ‘working workplace’ tours, the workplace experience encompasses four key areas: health and wellness, collaboration and connectivity, courageous cultures, and diversity and inclusion. In a world where attracting, retaining and getting the most from people is vital to the pursuit of gaining a competitive advantage, the experience employees have in the workplace is a powerful strategic resource. That experience should be something thoughtfully developed and painstakingly designed to align with the business goals and needs of the organisation.
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.
- Aphrodite Papadatou
- Aphrodite Papadatou
- Aphrodite Papadatou
- Aphrodite Papadatou
