April 2020
62.7
In response to the global shift towards remote work triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, EDGE, a prominent Dutch property company, recognised an opportunity to assess the home working experience of its entire workforce.
Leveraging its commitment to employee well-being and recognising the impact of workspace on productivity, EDGE embarked on a comprehensive evaluation spanning March to July 2020. The initiative aimed to understand the dynamics of working from home, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving work landscape.
EDGE Olympic achieved an overall H-Lmi score of 62.7, after deploying the Leesman home working experience assessment in April 2020, showing a huge gap between employees’ home and office-based experience.
Amsterdam-based property company EDGE, known for pioneering employee experience, undertook a comprehensive evaluation of its workforce’s home working experience in response to the global shift prompted by the pandemic. EDGE is a company that takes its employee experience seriously. They understand that the space an employee works in impacts the work that they complete and can both aid and disrupt their ability to work productively. As the world went into lockdown in March 2020 and EDGE’s workforce
began working from home, it was almost a sure thing that employees would miss their high performing and supportive office-based environment.
As a company dedicated to pushing the boundaries, EDGE’s commitment to understanding the nuances of remote work positions them as leaders in adapting to the evolving work landscape.
EDGE’s journey began in March 2020 when, amid global lockdowns, they decided to survey their entire workforce to comprehend the intricacies of working from home. This move reflected their acknowledgment of the profound impact that the working environment has on employee productivity and overall well-being.
Renowned for its ‘smartest building ever constructed’ in Amsterdam, EDGE’s new HQ, EDGE Olympic, opened in 2018 and is recognised as the healthiest building in the Netherlands. However, as the world transitioned to remote work, EDGE sought to bridge the gap between the optimal office environment and the emerging challenges of home-based work. The Leesman Home Working Experience Assessment in April 2020 revealed a substantial disparity, with an overall H-Lmi score of 62.7.
An apparent longing for social connection among employees during the initial phase of 2020 underscored the significance of the workplace ecosystem EDGE had cultivated. Despite the outstanding office-based experience scores, the home working environment fell short, as reflected in EDGE’s H-Lmi being lower than the Leesman benchmark of 73.6 at the time.
In response, EDGE worked extensively to ensure their buildings provided safe environments post-lockdown. Leesman data indicated that the younger workforce and those with longer tenures at EDGE had varying home experience scores. The robust technological support offered during home working, with 89% reporting access to necessary IT tools, highlighted EDGE’s commitment to employee well-being.
While certain tasks, such as ‘Individual desk-based work’, thrived in the home environment, aspects like connection, knowledge sharing, and informal interaction suffered. The data also revealed a desire for a more prominent role for home working in the future, with employees expressing a preference for an average of 2.2 days a week post-pandemic.
Recognising the evolving dynamics, EDGE realised the need to optimise its peak-performing workplace to support employees in an increasingly flexible working model. Leveraging technology, EDGE made software changes to the EDGE Smart Platform, ensuring COVID-19 safety requirements were met. The platform offered real-time transparency on building performance, including CO2 levels crucial for preventing health risks.
EDGE’s exploration into home working experiences provided valuable insights, allowing them to adapt their strategies for the future. A significant portion of the
workforce felt that their homes supported thinking and creative work, indicating the potential for a balanced approach. The data also emphasised the importance of a supportive physical environment, alongside a people-centric approach and technological advances.
As EDGE anticipates a massive return to the office, their experience during the work-from-home experiment positions them as thought leaders. The lessons drawn from this period, coupled with smart building data, contribute to a crystal-clear understanding of how the office should function in the future. Through EDGE Next, their new venture, the company aims to share their technology globally, facilitating real-time optimisation of office spaces for organisations worldwide. Coen van Oostrom, EDGE’s Founder & CEO, underscores the irreplaceable role of a good office space in fostering meaningful face-to-face connections and shaping future workplace strategies.
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