Dive Brief:

• The coupling of technological innovation and the desire to meet workers' needs has pushed organizations to set up shop in more efficient and comfortable buildings, according to Sodexo Vice President of Facilities Management Eric Jouane.​"The combination of talented people and technological advances are creating smarter, safer, more inclusive and sustainable environments that are responsive to the needs of people," Jouane said.
• Among the top tends in technology are augmented reality glasses, chatbot programs and the use of ultra violet light to fight mold, bacteria, viruses and pathogens. Another trend Jouane identified is the use of data to create smart buildings, which can adhere to optimized settings to save more energy and monitor facilities functions remotely.
• Green buildings that produce their own energy with solar panels and well-being buildings that eliminate toxic materials and use plants to improve inhabitants' heath are also among Jouane's 2019 facilities trend predictions, according to the release.

Dive Insight:

As HR professionals set out to recruit the best talent, they're becoming increasingly involved in office design. They may not be taking on the roles of architect or interior designer, but they have a strong interest in creating a space that attracts, engages and retains top talent, according to Associate Director of Drexel University's Interior Design Program Ada M. Tremonte. "We're beginning to talk more about people and human performance and behavior, and how you can actually change someone's behavior by their environment, which is why HR is getting involved in a lot of this," she previously told HR Dive.

This means more and more HR professionals are helping select the color scheme used in their offices — as the keepers of company culture, they know whether the hues of paint, textiles, furniture and artwork should provoke energy or inspire relaxation. And it's not just color that plays into HR's talent- and culture-related interests. Almost 3 in 4 employees said they are more likely to work for a business with a green footprint, according to a recent Swytch survey.

As these facilities trends give organizations more choice in how and where they do their work, HR may want to pay attention to how implementing such innovations might excite current and potential employees.