Beyond ping pong: how to create magnetic workplaces

The Great Resignation. Quiet Quitting. The Anti-Work Movement. If you’re responsible for talent acquisition or retention, these phrases may feel familiar. The root of these trends ultimately lies in how connected employees feel to their work and workplace. But at a time when engagement is at its lowest and loneliness is rising, connection feels more distant than ever. In this context, what can organisations do to ensure they can attract and retain the best talent?

Giving people what they want

To attract and retain top talent, organisations must understand what people expect from the workplace experience. People Strategy and Workplace Strategy teams work together to transform workplaces into hubs that foster connection and productivity.

Here’s how this happens:

Data driven insights from benchmarking, employee surveys and utilisation reports ensure decisions start from an informed position.

Persona development helps identify how different teams operate and clarify the spaces and services required for productivity and satisfaction.

Experience strategy shapes the moments that influence how people feel at work. This may include rethinking circulation routes or hiring a workplace experience manager.

Aligning spaces, technology and culture to integrate physical environments, digital tools and organisational norms to create a coherent strategy.

A focus on health and wellbeing extends beyond ergonomics and insurance. Today’s workforce expects meaningful wellbeing support.

A focus on culture

Workplace culture remains the strongest attraction or deterrent for talent. HP’s 2024 Work Relationship Index found that employees value tailored work environments so highly that 87% would accept a 14% pay cut to have one.

Effective change leadership is critical. People leave managers, not companies. Leaders must articulate and guide transformation, developing and cascading playbooks and policies.

Organisations should measure impact and refine strategies over time. It’s crucial to establish metrics to track engagement, productivity and retention over time.

‘In today’s competitive talent landscape, organisations must transform their workplaces into thriving communities to attract high performers and enhance productivity without burnout,’ says Lee Daniels, Global Growth and Innovation Leader at JLL.

For a deeper dive into the strategies that turn workplaces into powerful talent magnets, read JLL’s whitepaper on creating magnetic workplaces through data-led decision making.