Workplace Survey

Blend brings to you an unique exercise that Freespace is embarking upon, in association with IFMA India, to set up a framework for co-creating a better way of work in the post Covid 19 era. There is much talk about a completely new ‘way of work’ emerging. However, we believe that we are still at a stage where we still do not know what we do not know. So it is nearly impossible to predict if the new way will be radically different or corporate organisations will slide back to old ways. After all, nobody likes change, right? No one can predict. So, why not co-create a way of work that will be relevant and will not be difficult to implement?

The exercise comprises of an online survey as a first step, followed by select one-to-one interviews. These will be followed by ideation sessions with select participants to evolve easy, practical and economical ways to return to normal. We also believe the learnings will better secure us against Tsunamis of this kind in the future. Shown below is the survey form. This exercise is being implemented with participation from a few select organisations in India. The data you submit will be secure with the research team. The data will be analysed and the summary of the results will be shared with each participating organisation. On you completing this survey:

You will see glimpses of low cost, high value tech solutions which have been readied to help organisations get back to their workplaces easily, on the landing page.
You will get free access to a new calculator for workplace efficiency that we are trying to co-create and build with you. You can try out the basic version we have put up there, play around and see, in real time, different savings under different scenarios.

The above mentioned are small examples of many other things that Freespace and others are working upon to make the return to workplaces easier and low cost. We believe in an open-source approach. We know that we have a better chance of evolving a better way of working if we co-create solutions with end-users, that is you. We thank you for participating in this survey in advance.

First Name *

Family Name *

Organisation *

Designation *

Email Address *

Phone *

To which industry does your organisation belong? *Select from the options in the drop down list. In case your organisation represents more than one industry, select one that can be considered as primary.

Which other? *Please mention which other industry your organisation belongs to.

Does your organisation provide every employee a dedicated work-desk? *YesNoIn several offices these days, the number of desks provided may be less than the total number of workers. This allows real estate to be optimized, as a small percentage of workers may call in sick or may be traveling or on leave or may work from home.

Will you consider moving to a non-dedicated (partly or fully) work desk system in the near term? *YesNoThere are enormous savings to be derived from a non-dedicated approach. Plus there are efficiency and productivity benefits.

Do you have any tech tool/program/dashboard for booking work desks (non dedicated desks) by workers? *YesNoSome organisations have booking tools that workers can use to select a work desk of their choice. Others follow a legacy system of 'take up any seat that is available for the day'.

Do you have any tech tool/program/dashboard for 'occupancy monitoring'? *YesNoOccupancy monitoring dashboards can give you real time time data of how optimised your space utilisation is.

Do workers work from home or a place of their choice once in a while? *YesNo

At any point in time during normal times (not Covid 19 related Lockdown times), approximately what % of workers are working from home (or a place of their choice outside the office)? *We understand this may be difficult to estimate this. However this is a critical piece of data, and hence we would like you to put in a near approximation percentage.

Do you think your organisation will be open to allowing workers to work from home? *YesNoWe are referring to normal times, not lockdown times.

Which rank of workers are seen availing 'work from home' benefits most of the time? *Senior levelMid levelJunior level

You said that it is the guys at senior level who mostly avail of 'work from home'? But which category do you think is most prepared to, able to and comfortable with the idea to 'work from home'? Still the seniors? Or some other category? *Senior levelMid levelJunior level (Gen Z, Millennials)We ask this question, as it is often observed that seniors are considered more 'trustworthy' than those at the entry level (although it should not be like this). So when they work from home, it is felt that they are actually 'working'. However when someone down the rank works from home, the same level of trust may not be demonstrated. This is a general statement, and there are exceptions to this. So kindly choose your answer carefully.

You indicated that it is the guys at mid level who mostly avail of 'work from home'? But which category do you think is most prepared to, able to and comfortable with the idea to 'work from home'? Still the mid-level guys? Or some other category? *Senior levelMid levelJunior level (Gen Z, Millennials)We ask this question, as it is often observed that mid mid level or seniors are considered more 'trustworthy' than those at the entry level (although it should not be like this). So when they work from home, it is felt that they are actually 'working'. However when someone down the rank works from home, the same level of trust may not be demonstrated. This is a general statement, and there are exceptions to this. So kindly choose your answer carefully.

You said that it is the guys at junior level who mostly avail of 'work from home'? But which category do you think is most prepared to, able to and comfortable with the idea to 'work from home'? Still the juniors? Or some other category? *Senior levelMid levelJunior level (Gen Z, Millennials)We ask this question, as it is often wondered if the millennials and the Gen Z prefer 'working from home' or prefer being in a workplace socializing with colleagues.

Getting back to work

This section is about things that you may want to implement at the workplace such that a semblance of normalcy (although things will never be normal as we have known it) can return sooner than later.

What operational restructuring are you likely to 'consider' at the workplace to effect a faster return to normalcy? *Operate in multiple shifts if currently operating in single shiftSocial distancing by way of new rules within existing workplace like keeping a desk vacant between two desksRetrofit of existing workplace to enable social distancing and minimise hygiene related risksTemperature measurements and stringent health & wellness policiesConsider splitting operations into multiple locations (from single); set up satellite offices to effect greater business resilienceOthersThe Covid 19 virus risk is likely to stay for months to come, and organisations will require to minimise the risk by bringing about operational changes.

Others like?What other methods do you think you can employ for a quicker return to normalcy?

Tech tools can be helpful in achieving a faster return to work. If you had the choice, in which areas will you want technology to come to your organisation's help the MOST? *Social distancingCleaningEmployee reassuranceAnalytics related to the workplace and employeesOthersPlease select options (multiple allowed) where you think Technology can be most helpful in the context of your organisation.

Others like?How else would you want technology to help your organisation in a faster return to normalcy?

What is your biggest concern about deploying new technology? *PrivacyCostRisk of successTrainingOtherThere is often fear about adopting new technology. In light of tech adoption to help you with an easier return to work in the Covid 19 era, what is your biggest fear?

What other fear?

New Design

This is the last section. The above questions were on the premise of a quick return to work by way of using the same layout of workplaces that you currently have. However, talks around new designs of workplaces are beginning to surface, to better enable social distancing and higher standards of health and safety. This is largely because the virus is unlikely to disappear from our lives for several months (may run into years). So, if you had a chance to have your workplaces re-designed, what will be the most important changes you would like to see?

In normal times (pre Covid 19 era), what used to trigger a redesign of the layout of your workplace(s)? *When we relocate or consolidate officesWhen business requirements changeWhen we get a sense that the current layout is not aiding the desired productivityOthers

Others like? *Please write down what 'other' situation triggers a redesign of workplaces.

How do you get a sense that the current layout is not aiding the desired productivity?Do you look at KPIs alone and somehow link it to the layout? Or do you have some workplace monitoring tools? Or is it something else?

WE DO APPRECIATE THAT THE ABOVE ARE YOUR PERSONAL OPINIONS AND MAY OR MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT YOUR ORGANISATION’S POSITION. You may click the Submit button below after you have registered your responses above. Once you do this, your data will be submitted as part of an exclusive survey that is being done amongst a few corporate organisations with operations in India. Once we complete the survey with other participating organisations, the complete data will be analysed and the emerging report will be shared with you (without associating any individual data associated with any organisation). Thank you for participating in this unique survey.

Workplace Survey

Getting back to work

This section is about things that you may want to implement at the workplace such that a semblance of normalcy (although things will never be normal as we have known it) can return sooner than later.

New Design

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