With RTO mandates still standing opposite to remote-first models, we wanted to find out what a return to in-person connections can mean without hard mandates. We spoke to three workplace experts who shared their tactics, KPIs, and workplace strategies.

Speakers:

• Michael Merola, VP Places, Intuit
• Megan Burns Lanzendorf, Director of Global Workplace, The Knot Worldwide
• Ian Spencer, Global Head of Real Estate & Facilities, Lucid

Hosted & moderated by Gable’s CEO, Liza Mash Levin.

Intuit's Geolocated Hybrid Model

Intuit has pioneered a hybrid model that leverages geolocation to foster team collaboration. Michael Merola from Intuit emphasized the importance of intentional in-office days, ensuring teams are physically present together to maximize collaborative efforts.

This approach is not just about physical presence but about enhancing team dynamics and productivity through strategic geolocation of teams. Merola articulated, "It's about being there with your team on the days that matter most for collaboration."

The Knot Worldwide's Remote-First Policy

Megan Burns Lanzendorf of The Knot Worldwide detailed their remote-first policy, which is complemented by intentional in-person gatherings for what they term "moments that matter."

This approach allows for flexibility and autonomy, catering to the global nature of the team while still fostering a sense of connection and belonging. Megan explained, "Our aim is to create intentional moments for collaboration without mandating frequent office attendance."

Lucid's Flexible Approach

Ian Spencer from Lucid shared their flexible workplace strategy, which is customized to the needs of different teams within the organization. This approach has led to noticeable improvements in productivity and engagement, particularly for their sales organization, by encouraging in-office collaboration on specific days.

Spencer highlighted, "Flexibility is key, but we've found that bringing certain teams together in the office can significantly enhance productivity and morale."

Innovative Strategies and Insights

• Intentional Office Design: Both Intuit and The Knot Worldwide have rethought their office designs to support their hybrid and remote-first policies, respectively. Intuit's focus on collaboration spaces and The Knot's emphasis on flexible workstations and tech-enhanced rooms reflect their commitment to creating spaces that support their unique work policies.
• Employee Engagement as a Key Metric: All three companies prioritize employee engagement over traditional metrics like office utilization. This shift reflects a broader understanding that engaged employees are more productive and satisfied, regardless of their physical work location.
• Adaptability and Employee-Centric Policies: The Knot Worldwide utilizes data to understand employee preferences and design their workplace strategy accordingly, ensuring that their policies are truly reflective of their team's needs and preferences.
• Technology as a Catalyst: Technology plays a crucial role in facilitating remote and hybrid work models, enabling seamless collaboration and connectivity among team members, regardless of their location.

Building upon the innovative workplace strategies of Intuit, The Knot Worldwide, and Lucid, it's crucial to delve deeper into the nuances of their approaches, particularly focusing on the pivotal role of employee engagement as a key metric, the intentionality behind office design, and the strategic use of events to foster connection and collaboration.

Employee Engagement: A Paramount Indicator

Michael Merola from Intuit candidly shared his perspective on employee engagement, revealing the high levels of engagement at Intuit and attributing it significantly to their hybrid model and geolocation of teams.

He expressed a genuine concern for maintaining such high engagement levels, acknowledging that "nothing really trumps anything over employee engagement as just like that big high-level KPI."

This underscores the intricate link between workplace strategies and their direct impact on employee satisfaction and productivity. The emphasis on engagement over traditional metrics like office utilization marks a shift towards a more human-centric approach in workplace management.

Intentional Office Design: Beyond Aesthetics

Both Intuit and The Knot Worldwide have reimagined their office spaces to align with their hybrid and remote-first strategies, respectively. Intuit's focus on creating collaborative spaces that cater to geolocated teams underlines the importance of physical settings in enhancing team dynamics.

Similarly, The Knot Worldwide's approach to flexible workstations and technology-enhanced rooms reflects a deep understanding of the diverse needs of its global team. These intentional design choices are not merely about aesthetics but about creating environments that support the way teams work best, whether through collaboration, focus, or social interaction.

Strategic Use of Events: Cultivating Connection

The discussion on the strategic use of events to drive employee engagement highlighted the innovative approaches companies are taking to bring their teams together.

Megan Burns Lanzendorf of The Knot Worldwide detailed their approach to hosting four signature events annually, which see high attendance and foster a sense of community and belonging among employees. These events, ranging from charity work to pride parades, are complemented by more frequent team gatherings, illustrating the balance between structured corporate events and more informal team interactions.

The emphasis on creating intentional moments for connection, regardless of the frequency, underscores the evolving nature of workplace engagement strategies in a hybrid and remote work landscape.

Make meaningful connections happen with Gable

Whether it’s global flex spaces or your own offices, Gable makes it easy for employees to find and book workspaces for getting together while workplace teams get robust analytics, permission settings, and budget controls for their entire workplace strategy – all in one place.

Learn about Gable’s flex spaces offering, our HQ feature, and our reporting – and book a 30-minute demo with our team to get all your questions answered.

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