Workplace Agility -So much more than an office move….
A Case Study Of Agile Working Implementation
Liese LordHR Director – People SolutionsSeptember 2015
Pitney Bowes, a global technology company that powers billions of physical and digital transactions across the connected and borderless world of commerce.
Pitney Bowes Ltd | AWA PIN meeting | 24 September 2015
About Pitney Bowes
$4b RevenueGlobal business
with 19 key
markets
+1.5 m clients16000 employees
globally
Fortune 500
company
95 years in
business
Workplace Agility…. The PB Way of Life
Connected
• Technology
• Collaboration
• Communication
Flexible
• Performance
• Choice – where, when & how
• Trust & Autonomy Culture
Anywhere
• Global
• Sustainability
• Savings
FP
O
FP
O
Employee Value
Proposition
Employee
Engagement
Diversity
& Inclusion
Multi Generational
Appeal
Underlying principle that the Business needs are met
Pitney Bowes Ltd | AWA PIN meeting | 24 September 2015
Case Study of European Head Office Relocation – a Catalyst
Pitney Bowes Ltd | AWA PIN meeting | 24 September 2015
From having just 60 ‘agile’ employees in our Harlow office to
only 60 employees in the Hatfield office every day
From Harlow… Grade D Offices……c14 acres….1950’s….ex Manufacturing…..
$4.5 m pa running
costs
$44m renovation
costs
$97m cost over
10 years
To Hatfield….2 floors…40,000 sq ft……Grade A
Capital Investment $19m
10 year cost $58m
Summary of Relocation Components
Harlow –European Head
OfficeSince 1960’s
Reporting Office for
700+ employees
450 250
Inside Sales, Training
plus separate location
for operational Supply
Chain
Head Office,
Leadership and
Corporate Functions
Hatfield Harlow20
miles
Actual Loss
of employees
on move =
1.5%
Risk of Loss
of employees
pre move
estimate =
50%
Pitney Bowes Ltd | AWA PIN meeting | 24 September 2015
Hatfield: The new Physical Workspace
Hatfield Case Study: What did we Achieve?
New way of working in a great environment
Great Client Environment & company image
New culture – trust, autonomy and outputs based
Excellent retention of employees knowledge and skills • Only 1.5% loss at the time of move• No leavers post move citing relocation of office as reason for leaving
Revenue increased and as productive as a business… arguably more productive!
85% of Hatfield employees now working in an agile way• Individualised arrangements for those with childcare, carer & disability reasons/responsibilities
Business continuity achieved • Ongoing positive business impact due to reduced time lost for absence and other events (e.g. ‘snow days’)
Over 650k commute miles saved during the first year post move• Employee fuel costs saved = over £220k ($310k)
Enhanced Employee Value Proposition
Engaged employees – increase year on year in Employee Engagement results, way of working seen as positive
Cultural Change & Skills for the future
• Leadership - buy in & example critical
• Trust & Autonomy from Traditional approach
• Performance & Outputs rather than presence (removed “9 to 5”)
• Vision & Shared Goals rather than individual
• Flexibility & Choice over where and when work
• Virtual, often Global Teams from co-located
• Space designed for needs– rather than status
• Behaviours approach – rather than ‘policies & policing’
• Team, Community & Relationships
Hatfield Case Study: What did we learn?
Leadership example is critical
People change at different paces
Change is constant be brave, changes are harder after the catalyst event
Stakeholder engagement and having champions is key
Visualisation and “Road Testing” – worth the investment
Be proactive but patient!
Expectations increase, Tolerance decreases (i.e. hotelling)
Communication, Communication, Communication• Stakeholders, employees• Different methods of communication help
Support and education – ongoing
A role may be agile but a person may not be.
Always expect the unexpected!
This is a journey not a race!
Thank you
Pitney Bowes Ltd | AWA PIN meeting | 24 September 2015
Liese Lord
Email: [email protected]
Find out about PB at www.pb.com/uk
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