No more playing games in the office. The foosball tables, ping-pong tables, pool tables and pinball machines will be kept in the storage room of hundreds of companies, at the time interested in this veneer of modernity. Therefore, the same equipment that happily conquered corporate spaces is now retreating. This type of entertainment – initially designed for recreation and improving the work environment – has its months numbered in organizations with a technological profile, according to the study Innovating the culture of tomorrow: Exploring how global technological talent thrives, commissioned by Amadeus and to which elEconomista.es has had access.
Almost one in three respondents (31%) say that on-site recreational activities do the least to foster innovation, while 13% say the same about the need for a “lively atmosphere” (13%) at the corporate headquarters. On the contrary, The elements most conducive to fostering innovation are directly related to “back to basics” with improved technology (56%), material tools such as appropriate desks and equipment (53%), and a quiet space (49%), as well as facilities to meet with the team face to face to brainstorm and test ideas (48%).
Therefore, the square meters occupied by recreational equipment in the offices – including comfortable sofas, dart games, card games and video game consoles – are beginning to be occupied with meeting rooms and video conferencing booths. What is now imposed are places “where ideas flow and contrast, where new approaches can be tried and where failure is perceived as an opportunity to learn.” according to the same report.
The ultimate goal is for companies to be prepared to prosper, with meeting points where “effective, innovative and training-focused cross-border teams” come together. According to the same study, “organizations break down silos and offer employees the opportunity to embrace their individuality in the workplace. “They are companies in which diversity is respected, encouraged and supported, and in which the tools of innovation are provided for internationally mobile talent.”
The aforementioned study was carried out by Opinium Research, with the participation through surveys of 2,200 technology professionals from eight markets (India, France, Spain, Turkey, Colombia, Philippines, USA), aged between 18 and 55 years and all them related to technological professions.
The results were subsequently analyzed by Mercury Analytics, which used its proprietary platform to synthesize and develop insights around the responses to the open-ended questions asked in the survey.
The report indicates that ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and DE&I (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) aspects are gaining importance among young technological talents. It also mentions that almost half of technology professionals expect to change roles in the next five years, with training identified as a key priority for staying with their current employer.
Furthermore, two-thirds of technology workers would accept a salary reduction to work in the most innovative company in their sector. Likewise, the research also confirms the perception of one in four professionals about the company’s insufficient investment in their particular training. In Spain this percentage rises to 32%. “Apart from financial incentives, half (48%) consider that training in new technologies is a key factor in not changing companies. This specific training is prioritized considerably above reducing workload (24%) , feeling cared for and valued as an individual (30%) and achieving a better work-life balance (36%).”
Ana Doval, Senior Vice President, People and Culture at Amadeus, remembers that his group develops and implements “technologies that improve the travel experience, for everyone and everywhere”, in addition to helping the sector “to grow, evolve and transform.” As he explains, the “technological success” of his company is due to the staff. “They are our greatest competitive advantage and the center of everything we do. As we continue to push the boundaries of the industry and work at the forefront of technology, we know it is essential to listen and understand what is important not only to our people, but for the sector in general. Only by asking questions and addressing the important issues can we create an environment where technology professionals thrive, at all levels and in all functions.”.
In an interview with elEconomista.es, Doval highlighted the internal flexibility initiatives in the workplace, with a 50% hybrid face-to-face-digital model, as well as the so-called Workaction, that is, the possibility from 2022 to work anywhere in the world for 30 business days per year, something highly valued in a group with a presence in 190 countries. “Tech professionals demand flexibility, digital nomads abound, and it is beneficial for everyone to find balance between family and work life.”
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