Diary loves a bit of shameless name-dropping, and they don’t get much bigger than the Dalai Lama. So full credit to Landsec managing director Chris Hogwood for grabbing the opportunity with both hands when his holiness tweeted about sharing a “message of hope for the world” through collaboration with Circa on a global public art programme shown in major cities, including a short video clip of its appearance on the famous Piccadilly Circus screen. “Just another average week @LandsecGroup,” Hogwood entertainingly humble-bragged, “with the Dalai Lama tweeting about one of our places. I’m also told he has very progressive but forthright views on hybrid working too. Not sure if this sort of stuff happens at BL, @CRWhitley.” With that cheeky sign-off to British Land’s head of comms, Charlotte Whitley, we can’t help but wonder what the Dalai Lama makes of blowing one’s own trumpet…
We’re loving it
Debate rages on about the WFH revolution, as more high-profile bosses order their employees back to their desks. And, while these big-picture visionaries/small-minded dinosaurs (delete as per personal preference) take the autocratic approach, other companies continue to spend plenty of time discussing how their workplaces will be evolving to entice staff back.
But, after all the hours and column inches devoted to this great debate, will it actually be McDonald’s that succeeds in making the office cool again? The fast-food chain’s new advert has been masterminded by acclaimed film director Edgar Wright, of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver fame. Set to the ultimate 80s earworm that is Oh Yeah by Yello (readers of Diary’s generation, reared on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, are already hearing it in their heads), it features a typical city workplace, seemingly at peak occupancy, as if the pandemic never happened.
One-by-one, everyone from the boardroom to security to the cleaning crew is persuaded to join in some great big Maccy D’s lunch by the simple communication of a double eyebrow raise, perfectly syncopated, with Wright’s trademark flair, to each iconic “bow bow” of the soundtrack.
Rarely, outside the classic Diet Coke break of yore, has the simple communal pleasure and camaraderie of the workplace been captured more effectively on screen. Surely it will have employees salivating to return. Then again, there’s a McDonald’s only 20 minutes’ walk from Diary’s house, and all we need is a mirror to give ourselves the eyebrows. In fact, we can see our own reflection in our laptop screen right now… Bow bow, chick-chicka!
The 50 zone
Experienced. Seasoned. Weathered. Veteran. Call them what you want, real estate professionals of a certain vintage are the only mentors that more junior workers should be looking to in these rocky markets, according to a poster on an internet forum for young finance professionals. In a post on Wall Street Oasis titled “CRE’s brave new world”, user Cash-on-Cash said: “My unsolicited advice to all CRE monkeys is to listen to your elders. If you are lucky enough to work with a 50+ year old who is cycle tested, study under them.” And that’s a strict age recommendation, they added. “It’s been a great ride, the music is finally stopping. 2023 is going to be the start of a shitshow…” (apologies, that’s Cash-on-Cash’s potty mouth, not ours). “Professionals under 35 have pretty much only seen the market go up. Professionals 35-45 think exclusively in terms of 2007-2010 when it comes to recession.” So, callow youths, seek out your quinquagenarian colleagues, and ask them to share their 50 sense.
Out with office
Speaking of Landsec, we spotted a LinkedIn post from Oliver Knight about his new role as “head of workspaces” – an interesting transition from his former post as… head of offices. Cue a quick follow-up to Landsec’s PR to address the significance of this development. “Oli’s title has just been updated to reflect the changing nature of work and the fact that workspace isn’t strictly just about offices,” came the reply. “Oli’s previous title won’t be used anymore so we won’t be filling his role.” Will others follow suit? Is office becoming a dirty word? Can heads of workspaces make sweeping changes to remote workers’ homes? Where does it all end?
Share your tales from the quirky side of the property industry by e-mailing diary@eg.co.uk
