The 15-minute city: the future of the workplace
What is a 15-minute city?The 15-minute city framework was masterminded by French-Colombian urban planner, Carlos Moreno, whose idea means that anything you need to live an urban life is a 15-minute walk or bike ride away, eliminating the reliance on cars or public transport.It is a revolutionary, environmentally friendly, and inclusive way to rethink the planning of a city or town, giving each neighbourhood access to work, school, healthcare, retail, hospitality and leisure facilities, green spaces, museums and more, on their doorstep.Following multiple lockdowns, there has been a growing sense of appreciation for locality in the world, with people spending more time walking around their neighbourhoods and preferring to work from home or make shorter commutes. And during the cost-of-living crisis, people have been more conscious about the ever-increasing prices of fuel and public transport.With more people working remotely, at least a few days a week, there is room for the addition of more localised, essential services and amenities, that would otherwise be concentrated in a central location. This would give those living on the outskirts access to these essentials and to a greater number of opportunities.What impact could 15-minute cities have on businesses?A recent research by the International Workplace Group (IWG) discovered that 83% of workers around the world would turn down a job that didn’t offer flexible working. This indicates people are less willing to commute and prefer shorter journeys to work. As a result, having an office space just 15 minutes’ walk or bike ride away would be much preferred by professionals.Shorter commutes often lead to improved job satisfaction, work-life balance and wellbeing, with much less time spent on stressful travel. When provided with the flexibility to work remotely or from a local office, rather than commuting to a head office in a city-centre location, workers will be more tempted to stay with the business, or actively seek work there.People are now much more aware of the social value of the companies they work for, and their own carbon footprints, and will take into account the length, expense and environmental impact of a longer commute when considering moving roles.The introduction of ‘15-minute cities’ could see the expansion of businesses into less-expensive local areas, reducing overhead costs and extending access to the national talent pool. Professionals across the country will have more opportunities closer to home, without the need to move centrally or commute. Then, the local talent pool will become richer, and businesses won’t have to cast such a wide net to search for their next employee.How close is the reality of ‘15-minute cities’ in the USA?The '15-minute cities' is gradually coming closer as cities recognize the importance of creating livable and sustainable communities. Many urban areas have taken notable steps towards achieving this vision. Cities like Portland, Oregon, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, have actively invested in transforming their neighbourhoods into more walkable and bike-friendly environments. They have implemented measures such as improving infrastructure, expanding public transportation networks, and promoting mixed-use development.While challenges remain, the growing awareness of the benefits associated with 15-minute cities, coupled with ongoing efforts in urban planning and development, indicates that the reality of 15-minute cities is becoming increasingly attainable in the United States.Overall, the concept of a ‘15-minute city’ could revolutionise the way we live, work, and hire, by reducing commute times, making it easier to access talent and opportunities, and to work hybridly. As a result, it could also improve job satisfaction, wellbeing and the general quality of life for you and your employees.If you’re looking for your next local hire or job opportunity, contact your nearest Reed office.
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Remote interviews – The ultimate guide
Interviews are a well-established part of the hiring process, but failing to properly prepare, or having an inefficient process not only means you could miss out on a talented potential employee - you could also damage your employer brand.Now that many companies have embraced remote and hybrid working, remote interviews have become part of standard business practice. Conducting interviews remotely provides many benefits, such as a quicker time-to-hire, greater access to talent through the breaking down of geographical boundaries, eliminates the need for travel, and often faster scheduling.By downloading this eBook, you will understand:How to prepare when conducting a remote interviewIt’s vital to take time to prepare for the interview and the first stage of this is to understand exactly what you are looking for in your new employee. This eBook gives you advice on getting the most out of your job description and person specification, how to organise the interview, what details you need to send to the interviewee, and tips on how to engage with them throughout the process.Different types of interviews and how to adapt them to be remoteWhether you are conducting a one-to-one video interview, telephone interview, video panel, competency-based interview, or a group session, they can all be adapted to a remote format. In this eBook, we set out the benefits of each of the different interview styles and give you tops tips to help conduct them remotely.Remote interviewing software and tools to help youHaving the right technology and software is essential to the success of your remote interview. You may conduct remote interviews on a regular basis or just occasionally, and whatever your needs are, we have listed some great free and paid-for tools that can help.How to make a great first impressionIt’s so important to make a great first impression – even more so when conducting the interview remotely. We give our top tips for making a good impression, with a video from our managing directors sharing their top tips.The importance of following up properly after the interviewWhat should you do after the interview? How should you follow up? Many people fail to follow up effectively after an interview which can even mean they may lose out on the perfect candidate. So, whether you want to extend your interviewee an offer or not, we set out advice on how to correctly follow up.With many businesses struggling to recruit in this challenging labour market, it’s even more important that your remote interview process is effective, keeps your candidates engaged, and ultimately helps you secure the top professionals.To start perfecting your remote interviewing process, download the free guide now.Watch this video for advice from some of our managing directors as they give their top three tips for conducting remote interviews:
Remote onboarding: successfully settle into your new job online
Working remotely is not a new concept, but there are some employees who have never worked from home before. With organisations now looking to remotely onboard new employees, some may find it more challenging than starting a role in an office.This blog will explore the considerations you should make so that you can be an essential member of the team and acclimate quickly to your new role.Home officeOne of the first things to consider is finding a good working environment within your home, with minimal interruptions and maximum concentration. It doesn’t have to be an office of your own, just a place that is yours, that you can leave at the end of the day.Work-life balance is crucial to our mental health, but it’s impossible to completely maintain during the lockdown, so you need to compartmentalise and use indicators that let you know you’re either working or not working i.e. a desk for work use only.TechnologyYour company should send you all the resources you need, including computers, keyboards etc. but you need to prepare your home for the increased and prolonged use of technology. You may need to upgrade your broadband or the capacity of your own computer, for example. Your electricity and internet bills will rise, but there are tax reliefs for that, so look into how you can claim money back for the increased cost.Find out what platforms your team is using and how they want you to share your work or collaborate – then familiarise yourself with these systems and processes. Your routine may depend on that of others going forward. Get acquainted with their system in the first day or two so you can start contributing as quickly as possible without mishaps – this may require seeking out the best person in your team to be ‘on-call’ for any support.CommunicationWhen you’re in an office environment, it’s more likely that you’ll have casual conversations with your new colleagues in the vicinity. Now, you must make an effort to get in contact with them. You will likely have an introductory team meeting over Zoom, MS Teams or other software, but to get to know people better, you should be proactive. Aim to set up meetings with everyone individually, to find out who they are, what their role is, how you can support them – and also a bit about them outside of work.Most new starters, especially if they’re new to the industry, will need a lot of support and your team will expect you to ask for help rather than figure it out alone. Utilise the technology to keep in touch with your manager and colleagues as and when you need to. There will always be someone in your team who can help you out, but you need to ask. Find someone who can help you connect to others you need to know in the organisation.ExpectationsWhen anyone starts a job, you must first learn what your boss and team expect of you, and what you should expect from them in turn. Part of getting to know your team and their roles is learning what you will need from each other. You might find that your boss is checking on you a lot to begin with, but that will lessen over time as you build their trust by meeting or exceeding their expectations.Ask if there is anything you need to learn more about and aim to build your skills as you work – there are so many online resources and courses to choose from, it’s good to ask for some recommendations. Gaining relevant skills will benefit your team as well as yourself.Soft skillsCommunication is one of the most common soft skills that employers look for – others such as flexibility, resilience and time management are also highly desirable, especially during the lockdown. Having a good attitude, being eager to learn, and offering to do more to support your team will help you stand out as a valuable team member.Part of being proactive is having your own opinions and ideas, and sharing them in order to help the team. This may take a while to get right if you’re just getting the hang of things, so no one will expect perfect solutions right away – but if you do have an idea, don’t be afraid to share it because it may spark others’ creativity. The worst that can happen is they say no. It’s better to make mistakes and ask questions at the beginning so that you can learn and grow.You may be working from home for a long time, so make as much effort as you can to stay professional, stay connected, and make a good impression.If you’re still searching for your next remote role, or a talented candidate to share this information with, contact any Reed office via phone or email.