The following was ghost-written for a salesperson.
June 10, 2019
We’ve all seen those property-porn house-hunting TV shows; there’s nothing better than gawping over an eight-bed, fully en suite Georgian mansion, especially if you’re living in a rented shoebox in Central London. But then, as the presenters reveal the astonishing bargain price, the camera pans out to reveal its position. The house is actually on a stranded island in the middle of the North Sea, only accessible by row boat, with no phone signal and a guzzling great oil rig lingering in the background. And one is suddenly reminded… location does matter!
So, does the same principle apply to our workplaces? I feel like I get the best of both worlds. The Capita offices, just around the corner from Oxford Circus, are a bit of a hike from where I live – but then I am very well supported in working at home. So, I’m not obligated to put up with the long journey every day, but when I do choose to, I’m in an exciting and busy area of London, enjoying a pretty swish working environment.
If you are expected to show yourself every day, though, the proximity of your working environment may well have a big impact: research has found that 45 minutes is pretty much the maximum people are prepared to travel on a daily basis, before they either move house or, presumably, job. Adding just 20 minutes to a journey time is equivalent to a 19% pay cut in terms of job satisfaction. The reasons why are pretty clear: not only is it boring, repetitive and often just unpleasant, stress levels can also rise as we worry about the work we could be doing instead of being stuck in traffic. Equally, the environment people find themselves in once they arrive has an impact too, in terms of both offices and surrounding amenities like restaurants and shops.
So, what can you do to mitigate these factors? Sadly, most of us don’t have the option to pick up and reposition our offices on a whim – bricks and mortar are hard to shift about, and it’s impossible to offer the perfect location for every potential or current employee.
The first thing to consider is a realistic understanding of what you’re going to expect from employees. If it’s really important that they be present every day, say so at interviews, and don’t be afraid to pose the question about commuting if you think they might live a bit of a distance away. Of course, if they’re really motivated to work for you – which of course they should be! – they may well be prepared to do a longer journey, or eventually move closer. But knowing exactly what they’re committing to gives candidates a fair chance at decision-making, and may well lower your attrition rates.
But if employees don’t need to be in as often, can you make working at home from time to time a possibility? Even if it’s only a day or two a week, it may help to break up the slog. Slightly more flexible working times, to help avoid rush hour, can help too. Even if they do live within the 45 minute window, flexible tweaks – that don’t really impact on their ability to do their job – will help employees feel appreciated, respected and catered for.
Having said that, I do think that everyone taking work at home days constantly can turn an office into a barren wasteland, and demotivate team working. This is especially relevant when the people we work with have a real impact on how we feel about our workplaces. Regular team meetings, for which everyone needs to be present, can maintain a sense of connection with colleagues, as can organising frequent social events. If it’s in your power, ensuring your office is hospitable, well maintained and pleasant to be in could make a difference to employees’ every day experience too. From a candidate’s perspective, a sizeable journey might be a necessity if they want to make strides in their career – but as an employer, you can make coming in to the office a pleasure instead of a pain.
Grace Thiele 