Aligning HR and CRE for a People-First Workplace—With Prudential Singapore

Five Lessons Learned from ‘Aligning HR and CRE for a People-First Workplace – With Prudential Singapore’

1. Shift from space to people-centric design
   Corporate real estate(CRE) is evolving from a focus on "bricks and mortar" to prioritizing employee engagement, well-being and creating environments that inspire people to come to the office. This shift emphasizes the need for CRE professionals to align closely with HR, understand organizational culture mandates, and pivot conversations from cost to value to demonstrate the strategic impact of workplace design.
2. Build a well-being ecosystem 
   Prudential's "well-being ecosystem" is built on four key pillars: creating safe environments, balancing synchronous and asynchronous work, fostering a sense of belonging, and promoting self-leadership. This integrated approach not only aligns HR and CRE efforts but also ensures that workplace strategies help employees thrive, feel connected and deliver value to customers. Though HR and Corporate Real Estate often sit in separate reporting lines, true integration happens when both functions align around the same customer — the people.
3. Empower employees with choice
   Cushman & Wakefield's Experience per Square Foot (XSF) survey shows that employees with control over their work location and schedule report higher satisfaction and well-being. Additionally, fostering social connections and a sense of belonging within the workplace is critical for retaining and attracting talent, as employees who feel part of a "tribe" are more likely to stay and thrive.
4. Lead with intentionality and metrics that matter
   Mandates to return to the office can backfire without intentionality. Leaders must use in-office time for meaningful engagement, such as mentoring and fostering connections. Additionally, shifting the focus from cost to value by creating metrics that demonstrate how workplace design enhances productivity, well-being and business outcomes can drive alignment between people and place.
5. Design workplaces to reflect culture and inspire action
   A thoughtfully designed workplace should embody an organization’s culture, purpose and values. The office should help employees feel connected, inspired and part of a larger mission. Bu creating spaces where employees not only survive but thrive, organizations can foster a sense of belonging and inspire teams to deliver exceptional value to customers.

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