**The Problem with Workspaces—And How to Solve It**
Cushman & Wakefield’s latest report, “Reimagining Workplaces,” outlines three primary goals that are shaping workplace strategy today:
– Cost reduction and real estate optimization
– Improved in-office attendance
– Enhanced employee experience and engagement
However, the report warns that many organizations place too much emphasis on the first two goals—cost management and attendance—while underinvesting in the third and most crucial area: employee experience. This imbalance has led to underwhelming outcomes, with just 60% of employees reporting that the office adequately supports its primary function of fostering collaboration and connection.
### Key Challenges
According to the report, although the goals themselves are valid, companies often fall short in execution due to internal missteps:
– **Overfocus on Tactical Fixes**: Many strategies lean heavily on immediate, cost-driven solutions that don’t support long-term goals.
– **Outdated Performance Metrics**: When performance measurement is tied to office attendance, it reinforces superficial benchmarks rather than meaningful outcomes.
– **Inconsistent Strategies**: A lack of consistency and clarity in workplace strategies often leads to reactive changes such as sporadic attendance rules or incremental space reductions.
– **Misalignment with Business Priorities**: Workplace goals are commonly sidelined by finance, operations, or other departments, leading to a disconnect between strategy and business needs.
### A New Approach: Experience-Based Working (EBW)
To address these challenges, the report recommends adopting **Experience-Based Working (EBW)** as a strategic framework. Unlike the previously favored Activity-Based Working (ABW), which emphasized space efficiency, EBW focuses on optimizing the employee experience.
EBW is not a one-time solution but rather a continuous strategic direction—a “north star” for organizations aiming to drive performance through enhanced experiences.
### Anticipated Outcomes
Organizations that have implemented EBW report:
– Stronger organizational cultures
– Improved employee retention
– Higher levels of engagement
– More effective use of office space
– Increased long-term resilience
“When leaders shift their focus from mandates and cost-cutting to employee experience, they strengthen culture, unlock more effective use of space and build long-term resilience,” the report concludes.
By realigning workplace goals to prioritize employee experience alongside operational efficiency, organizations can build work environments that are not only cost-effective but also empowering and engaging.
