Yet in the modern business world, that distinction is becoming increasingly blurred. Take Google, which is known for turning established thinking on its head when it comes to workplace design and policies. Its new £1 billion London campus features sports facilities some gyms can only dream of with a rooftop running track and a half Olympic sized swimming pool which act as a prime attraction for recruiting new talent, not to mention retaining existing employees.
“Google’s high-end facilities are a physical demonstration that the organization is focused on looking after its staff,” says Dr Marie Puybaraud, Global Head of Workplace Research at JLL. “Job-seekers will start to see such facilities as a benchmark —and all employers will put greater thought into how they use the quality of life at work as a way or recruiting and motivating staff.”
Fellow tech giant Facebook is another case study in how HR and Real Estate are increasingly working together. Its corporate village will include 1,500 apartments as well as a grocery store and offices. “The company is using its physical facilities to provide for its staff in ways which clearly go far deeper than the normal working relationship,” explains Puybaraud. “It is only when Real Estate and HR work seamlessly together that they can deliver such projects.”
Indeed, real estate teams suggesting such recreational facilities may well struggle to get them past the board without the backing of their HR colleagues. Equally, HR teams may be looking for new ways to increase engagement among staff yet may struggle with the practicalities of developing ambitious plans that require a rethink of current office space while working in a silo.