CFO Intelligence Magazine – Fall 2024
Meryl Rosenthal
Flexpaths CEO and CO Founder
CHANGING EXPECTATIONS
A top priority is a change in expectations. “We need to shift the emphasis from ‘return to office’ to the value of the office that results in cultures and experiences that are both worthwhile and memorable,” Rosenthal advises. “Spending time in the same place for eight hours a day is obsolete. Instead, office space should be designed to be appealing and functional, providing environments that match or exceed what they have created or can access off-site. This includes areas for private conversations, downtime for planning, creative spaces to innovate, and outlets for decompressing or relieving stress.”
With multiple generations in the workforce, and post-pandemic expectations, organizations are challenged with creating workplaces that appeal to different workstyles, personas, and tasks; solving for such conditions as productivity, collaboration, comfort, and inclusivity. Increasingly, irrespective of generation, individuals look for organizations and workplaces that offer flexible work, perpetuate a learning culture, promote purpose-driven work, and prioritize mental health and well-being.