Climate / Environment / Culture is a compilation of philosophies, policies, principles, and strategies that guide conduct and decision making. Some organizations are facing difficulties retaining and attracting the best employees. If this issue isn’t facing you as a Facility Manager it probably will in the near future. Here are the critical benchmarking questions to measure how effectively your organization compares with amenities provided by others.
Step 1 – Measure and compare your employee amenities…
11. Do site amenities have an impact on hiring and retaining employees?
11a. If YES, please describe how you measure the impact…
11b. Do you have a budget for amenities and activities at your locations(s)?
11c. If Yes, how is the budget established and how are the expenses managed?
12a. Do you poll employees / new hires / management as to their satisfaction with the current amenities or activities (qualify or frequency of items).
12b. If YES, please describe how you conduct this poll.
12c. Do you poll employees / new hires / management for ideas for new or revised amenities or activities?
12d. If YES, please describe how you conduct this poll.
What are some of the typical amenities provided…
13. Health
| 13a. Medical screening | Yes | No |
| 13b. Exercise programs | Yes | No |
| 13c. Nutrition | Yes | No |
| 13d. Ergonomics | Yes | No |
14. Diversity
| 14a. Fostering a sense of community | Yes | No |
| 14b. Celebrating the diverse culture of your site | Yes | No |
15. Food Services
| 15a. Cafeteria | Yes | No |
| 15b. Fast Food Courts | Yes | No |
| 15c. Catering | Yes | No |
| 15d. Coffee bars | Yes | No |
| 15e. Special Events | Yes | No |
| 15f. Cashless Purchases | Yes | No |
Step 2 – How Do I Compare With Others…
Once this information is collected it is easy to compare the services provided by your organization with others in the benchmarking program.
Step 3 – Using This Information…
You’ve completed your data collection and made comparisons showing how you stand. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself…
- What amenities are lacking that hinder recruitment of the most talented people
- Could you explain to management why your position on the chart is just right or needs to be changed?
- What are some of the reasons that explain your position on the chart?
Step 4 – Some Best Practices…
- We have visited several sites in the past few months that have developed significant amenity programs to attract the best and brightest employees available. The types of facilities are varied but include gymnasiums, pools, exercise facilities, day care centers, and running tracks.
Metrics from the Facility Managers Round Table (FMRT)
In 2006 there were 74 unique sites in the FMRT with a median size of about 1,450,000 million square feet. See the chart below to see how the group looked by industry type.
Space Metrics
- Space Utilization 430 Gross Square Feet per Occupant
- Cost Metrics
- Utilities $2.17 / GSF
- Custodial $1.33 / Cleanable SF
- Maintenance $1.82 / GSF
- Parking and Paving $1529 / Acre
- Groundskeeping $3405 / Acre
- Security $0.73 / GSF
- Mail Services $0.22 / GSF
- Environmental Health and Safety $0.35 / GSF
- Fixed Costs (Includes: Building, Leasehold Improvements, Furniture/Equipment) $ 3.71 / GSF
Move / Churn Cost Metrics
- Box Move Costs $317 / Person Moved
Customer Satisfaction
- Satisfaction With Overall Facilities Services 3.80 on a 1 to 5 scale
