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In north Melbourne, a real estate office has unveiled a brand-new work hub designed with employee health in mind.
“I believe that in a post-COVID world, workplaces need to change to attract staff into the office,” said Robert Ozzimo, director of Harcourts Rata & Co.
With the opening of their new premises, the business has tried to cultivate a space that is not only technically state-of-the-art, but also created with employees’ physical and mental health in mind.
The dedicated space located in Thomastown features a fully fitted-out café with a full-time barista serving coffee and food to staff; a gym available for use 24/7; bathrooms complete with showers and change rooms; a huge break-out space for both collaborative work and well-earned celebrations; and four lounge areas with bluetooth music hookups through every space.
“By providing a space where the staff can feed off the energy of the team but also find space to work in peace and quiet, we are able to offer the best of both worlds,” Mr Ozzimo said.
The business head said the space was already paying off with staff keen to come into the office, offering greater chance for collaboration.
“Our staff are loving the new facility; we have some who are arriving early, training in the gym then showering on site and starting work,” he noted.
“The buzz as you walk through the complex is unbelievable; people seem to gather in different spaces and there has been a huge difference in the way we collaborate”.
Along with the new facilities, the firm has introduced a streamlined system for everyone to access the space as they need it. The seven meeting rooms plus the boardroom, can be booked electronically through the diary, with each room clearly displaying its availability through a monitor at the entrance of each space.
A 90-seat auditorium is also equipped with the most up-to-date features, with remote access as easy as a click for those staff who aren’t able to attend in-person.
According to Mr Ozzimo, he’s confident the new headquarters will allow his team to “collaborate like never before, leading to a sense of unity, belonging and the building of a bulletproof culture.”
“This office allows us to work alongside each other, to get the best out of each other and to celebrate our achievements as a team”.
Harcourts Victoria CEO Tony Morrison clearly sees the value of the luxury amenities.
“The recently opened super office of Harcourts Rata & Co. is the new gold standard of what the best workplaces will look like in the future. Offering the best of design, space, fit-out and technology this environment will not only attract the best staff, but it will retain them as well,” Mr Morrison said.
Commenting on the sense of isolation that some can feel with remote work, Mr Ozzimo said he intended the social aspects of the new office to offer “the antidote to working from home”.
“It is a space that inspires creativity and innovation, giving the opportunity of growth to each individual while being part of and supported by the collective strength of the team”.
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