The Employee Handbook
A monthly newsletter about current challenges and conversations for values-driven HR professionals
How Companies Can Help Sustain ‘Third Places’
When you’re not at work or at home, where can you be found? For some, it might be a local coffee shop, while others might prefer a nearby library or a public park. Regardless of your answer, the place that you seek out for casual conversation or meaningful community connection is considered your “third place.”
The value of community has never been greater, especially in a time when feelings of loneliness have become increasingly prevalent. And yet, third places seem to be disappearing. So why the seemingly sudden loss, especially at a time when community-building is becoming a priority for many leaders and organizations? Here’s the upside: there are practical strategies for business leaders to boost third places. Among them:
Provide Customers With a Third Place
Some businesses can give their customers a third place. They can create community in their spaces by creating experiences that foster meaningful interactions for those who seek them. “This means separating mobile and drive-through orders from the on-premise ones to minimize interactions between the different crowds. It also means reinvesting in comfort and amenities for people who want to hang around,” as reported in Harvard Business Review. What it really requires is thoughtful attention to the spaces where people connect, something that has been top of mind in the era of returning to the office.
Harness CSR to Cultivate Community
Companies can also leverage their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to create or support spaces that foster connection. In San Francisco, Salesforce funds a public park with lush walking trails and lawns for sitting, an amphitheater, and even on-demand board games. And while not every company can fund an entire park, they can promote volunteerism to support local parks and other existing third places. These CSR efforts benefit both the community and employees, boosting wellness and engagement.
Encourage Flexible Work
Flexible work schedules let employees engage with their communities and actually make the most of third places. Work-life balance isn’t a new concept, but with opportunities for hybrid work, employees can seek out these places even during business hours.
Read more about the importance of third spaces and how you can help support them here.
Adopting More Age-Inclusive Workplace Habits
Just as community matters in our personal lives, it also plays a crucial role in the workplace. For a community to really flourish, diversity is key–especially when it comes to different generations being part of the mix.
Working in a multigenerational organization can leave you surprised by what you need to teach, but also what you can learn from those who are older and younger than you. Embracing opportunities to foster a multigenerational team can help move a good organization to great. In part two of our three-part series in collaboration with AARP, From Day One dives into age-inclusive practices that any organization can adopt.
One top tip is expanding your hiring process, something AARP practices when adding to their workforce. They make sure job descriptions don’t overly privilege any single age group, says AARP senior advisor Heather Tinsley-Fix. “We don’t put upper ranges on experience requirements. Rather than five to 10 years, we say five or more. We don’t ask for graduation dates.”
To learn more about supporting a multi-generational workforce, read the full story here and register for our Oct. 3 webinar on Tools to Create a Multi-Generational Workforce.
Join us!
Looking for tips on building a company culture that’s healthy, inclusive, and durable? Look no further. Tune into our half-day virtual conference on September 18 to learn just that from leaders at DocuSign, Warner Bros. Discovery, HPE, and many more. The day will be packed with expertise, from fireside chats to panels about “Cultivating Well-Being Through Workplace Culture” and “The Crucial Role of Investing in Employees in Challenging Times.” Register here for complimentary VIP passes with access to the whole event.
Get credit! We’re hosting webinars on the topics you’re most interested in, from taking a holistic look at health, including postpartum and menopause support, and addressing insomnia, to hiring top talent, and developing hourly workers. Check out the full list of webinars and register today. Our webinars are free of charge and count towards professional development credits at SHRM and HRCI, so don’t miss out!
And in just a few weeks we’ll be back on the road at our series of one-day in-person events. Join us in Boston, Philadelphia, Denver, Los Angeles, Austin, Brooklyn, or Miami. See you there.