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Happy Monday,
Imagine this: After a rushed morning that possibly includes getting kids ready and taking them to school, you get to the office, grab a coffee and jump right into back-to-back meetings. After all that interaction, and a stressful presentation, you could really use some time to yourself to recharge and make the most of the rest of your busy work day.
So, you head to a designated, private area with a soft couch, some art – and no tables for working.
You’re in an ‘alonement’ space.
“Alonement, the way I perceive it, is trying to eliminate that low-level hum of anxiety, and gives you a moment to breathe so you can re-engage in things a little bit more fully and enthusiastically,” says Max Rosenfeld, executive vice president and head of asset management at Crestpoint Real Estate Investments Ltd.
Workers returning to the office, even if it is only a few days a week, are facing a stark contrast to the quiet work spaces of their homes. An open office can feel overwhelming and draining, and workers are adjusting to the increased in-person interaction with coworkers, clients and customers. These solitude-friendly spaces can also help with mental well-being, a priority for many workplaces today.
Mr. Rosenfeld says the need for alone time also makes a lot of sense for working parents who may be trying to work with kids around when it is outside of school or daycare hours.
“I think there’s value in that, and that [parents] certainly didn’t get that alone time during the pandemic,” he says.
How community and alonement converge
Crestpoint has been working on updating a Toronto building called Roserock Place.
While creating community is one of the main goals with the office redesign – it includes amenities like a shared patio, a full bar and a tenant lounge – the team understands the need for balance and has incorporated alonement spaces.
“Part of that was providing spaces where you could get a break from your work,” Mr. Rosenfeld says. “It could be a 10-minute break, it could be an hour long break, but we built them very intentionally as part of the space.”
One of the examples of an alonement space in Roserock Place is the 250-square-foot library that looks down York Street and has a view of Lake Ontario. They also have small, private rooms with no technology set up so people can step away from work.
Many employers say that they are bringing people back into the office to increase engagement and sustain company culture. So, supporting alone time might feel counterintuitive to that. However, Mr. Rosenfeld says there is space for both if you want people to be able to truly engage.
“Where you need to build community, you also need to provide people with a space where they can step away from it and be on their own a little bit,” he says.
Fast fact
Pay cut
62 per cent
When asked if they would accept a lower salary if it meant a better work-life balance, 62 per cent of Gen Z workers said yes, according to a new white paper from Top Employers Institute.
The findings reveal the workplace values of the newest generation across a broad range of topics, including leadership, culture, well-being and AI.
Career guidance
Kickstart your network
Building a personal and professional network is no easy task – especially if you’ve just graduated or are trying to find work in a new city or industry.
Experts say you should review your existing contacts to see who you already know; people like professors, other students or even people your parents or friends are connected to. You should also think of creative ways to connect with people beyond informal interviews, like volunteering at an industry event or taking a professional course.
Quoted
The mentorship gap
“The assumption seems to be that women and people of colour need formal mentoring to succeed in a male-dominated business world while men, particularly white men, don’t require the same structured support. This disparity is built on a set of troubling societal and business assumptions. Let’s pick them apart,” pens Karima-Catherine Goundiam, founder and CEO of digital strategy firm Red Dot Digital.
Ms. Goundiam goes on to look at some of these damaging assumptions and how we can ensure everyone has access to mentorship opportunities.
On our radar
More bums in more seats more often
As time passes, employers are insisting that employees spend a certain amount of time in the office – and the expectations keep rising. The federal government has increased the in-office minimum from two days per week to three, and Telus Corp. has told their call centre staff that they have to be in three times per week, or can leave with severance pay.