The War for Talent  |  Supporting Employees as People  |  Mission Bay Innovation District

Building an Office to Support Employees as People

As technology companies try to entice employees back to the physical workplace, there are several big trends in workplace amenities. Gone are the days of Ping Pong tables and slides. Today’s workplace focuses on amenities to support their employees as people. This means listening to what employees say they want in their workspaces or from their employers. These amenities are no longer just physical amenities, they also are benefits and perks for employees. The most requested amenities fall into three main categories: those that provide convenience, support wellness and build connections.

"The companies that are impressing me today are the ones who are paying attention to their employees personal and professional needs and values, and working together to offer solutions that benefit all" says Marissa Huber, Director, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield.

Amenities that provide convenience can make coming to an office more attractive or easier than working from home. They can help support employees and make their daily lives easier. They include perks such as:

The Rise of Innovation Districts: Mission Bay

Mission Bay helped set the stage for future innovation districts — dense, mixed-use urban areas with affordable housing and opportunities for education, entertainment and recreation. These walkable hubs, where people can live, work and play, are anchored by tenants with strong research or education focus, like universities or hospitals.

“Successful Innovation Districts offer a variety of spaces to tech companies and their employees including; retail, education, workplace and residential all sitting within public realm” says Nicola Gillen, Cushman & Wakefield’s EMEA Lead for Total Workplace.

Mission Bay and other innovation districts have become a natural solution to the ongoing questions over what workplaces should look like in a post-pandemic world. By design, innovation districts offer a balance between work and home, exactly what employees seek right now. Innovation districts also offer:

Today, there are more than a dozen innovation districts around the world. Below are a few examples of innovation districts being built or already flourishing: