How Reckitt SSA Is Transforming Workplace in Africa
How Reckitt SSA Is Transforming Africa's Workplace
The novel Coronavirus wrought havoc on workplaces worldwide. By August 2020, there will be a 22% decline in workplace activities in Nigeria. Employers and employees discovered that work could and could be done from any location with a stable internet connection. Remote work became the norm, and things changed in a variety of sectors.
Fortunately, the virus's rate of spread has continued to decline in Nigeria. The government has also eased restrictions on movement and gathering, and more Nigerians have begun to return to work. Many have inquired, 'what's next?' Do we revert to traditional employment? Can we continue operating the 'office space' in its current form?
Reckitt addressed those nagging questions when it opened a state-of-the-art headquarters in Ikoyi, Lagos for its Sub-Saharan Africa operations. Hygiene, sustainability, COVID-19 precautions, and employee welfare were all factors in determining the office's aesthetics. This location will house Reckitt's operations in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) — Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ivory Coast.
The decision to establish its SSA headquarters in Nigeria is a watershed moment. The country has the continent's largest economy, earning approximately N3.93 trillion Naira in revenue in 2020. Nigeria is widely regarded as an innovation hotspot on the continent, making it an ideal location for the company's SSA headquarters. This choice to locate in the continent's nerve center also demonstrates the company's commitment to innovation and to achieving its mission of creating a cleaner, healthier world.
The new all-inclusive workspace embodies collaboration, adaptability, and a transformational culture. Additionally, it demonstrates Reckitt's understanding of the evolving hybrid workspace, which combines remote work and in-office activities.
Although the hygiene company will officially close its doors in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is taking a risk by implementing a hybrid work environment rather than sticking with the traditional workspace.
Ali Akbar Shah, General Manager, Reckitt SSA, shared the company's journey over the last year during the new office's commissioning on Monday, June 28, 2021. "Over the last year, we've learned how the world has evolved and recognized the value of a hybrid work regime, which is why we're transitioning from a traditional office space to an all-inclusive collaboration center where employees can bring their own devices." It is in this regard that we have established a precedent for the future of the workplace.”
In Conclusion
The office has the potential to transform the way people work in Nigeria and throughout Africa. It will enable Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Ivory Coast to operate in a more coordinated manner.
Apart from fostering collaboration and creativity, the hybrid workspace is also environmentally friendly. As a result, the decision to locate this office within the city's first environmentally certified commercial building was deliberate. Moreover, it includes user-friendly systems that demonstrate a commitment to staff hygiene and health safety by requiring all employees to adhere to COVID-19 protocols.
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