WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
WHERE THERE’S A ‘WIL’
The GSA, commonly known as the federal government’s landlord, is currently conducting a pilot with six federal coworking spaces across the U.S. and a Workplace Innovation Lab in Washington, where feds are invited to schedule tours and test out some of the newest office technology available—from the actual IT and commu- nication systems all the way down to the furniture and even the wiring in the ceiling. Scott Morin is a tech expert who demonstrates the IT capabilities at the lab, which the team often refers to as “the WIL.”
“The Workplace Innovation Lab is actually a new envi- ronment that GSA created as part of their Workplace 2030 strategy,” Morin said. “And really, it’s grown bigger than we ever thought. Now, we’ve had since February [2023], probably 5,000 to 6,000 federal employees through this space.” Morin said the WIL fills an important role for the federal government, as many organizations embrace a hybrid work environ- ment. “The Workplace Innovation Lab has enabled us to kind of create a magnet, as people are figuring out, how to make the office a magnet versus a mandate.”
What will you see when you walk through the front door? “You’re going to see an office that’s different than any other federal office you’ve seen before,” Morin said. “There are a lot of different spaces, very open, flexible spaces for people to collaborate, and we have flexible technology, including video endpoints that can be moved to position based upon your meeting or your group activity.”
In terms of federal workspaces, the WIL is unique. It has digital signage and maps, along with a mobile app to reserve a working space and even real-time monitor- ing of room temperature, air quality and more.
“We have, often, 200 to 300 people coming through the space every week, and the feedback that we’ve been given is that this is spot-on for what the govern- ment needs to attract people back to the office,” Morin said.
BANISH BACKGROUND
Taking a video call in a noisy office can be a headache. Background noise may make it difficult for others to hear you on a call—a problem that is compounded when officemates have simultaneous meetings. A visit to the WIL offers the chance to test out several types of soundproof workspaces. (Photo by the author)
federal government and private industry, advising Fortune 500 companies, nonprof- its, academia and startups to leverage work flexibility to create a competitive advan- tage. Kiran Ahuja, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, testi- fied in March 2023 that remote jobs listed on
USAJobs.gov receive an average of 17
times more applicants than nonremote roles. “Tere really is a significant impact when you’re thinking about filling critical talent shortages,” Cross said.
For leaders contending with a compet- itive labor market, Johnson offered two pieces of advice. “If you’re in a war for
talent and you’re in a very tight recruit- ing market, then you have to do things that meet people on their own terms,” he said. Part of that should involve crafting an effective engagement strategy. “You’ve got to explain what we’re doing.” Many Americans don’t have a clear idea of the types of jobs that exist within the Army,
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