In episode 132 of Asset Champion, host Mike Petrusky speaks with Faith Ray, Facilities Management Environmental Health and Safety Manager at Willi am & Mary. They explore creating opportunities to create a culture of connection and psychological safety by prioritizing employee well-being over budgets and deadlines. Ray explains why she believes the built environment needs to be more adaptable to changing circumstances, including incorporating new safety features while empowering and equipping staff with knowledge and tools.
Agenda
- Importance of employee well-being
- Challenges of staff retention
- Impact of COVID-19 space use
- The need for safety features in buildings
What you need to know: Facility and maintenance takeaways
Takeaway 1: Prioritizing people over property is a crucial aspect of successful facility management
Prioritizing employees not only fosters a positive work environment but also supports organizational goals, including boosting productivity and retaining talented staff.
“Always put your people first. There’s no budget or deadline that’s more important than your people,” explains Ray. “The paycheck brings them here, but their wellbeing keeps them here.”
Takeaway 2: Safety and sustainability are key considerations in facility management
The built environment should incorporate more built-in safety features to ensure the well-being of occupants.
Although safety has always been a concern, it became paramount during the pandemic, and facility managers started using spaces in new ways. She further suggests buildings utilize materials that require less maintenance, fewer harsh chemicals. Where possible, she encourages facility and maintenance departments to switch to recyclable materials and design multipurpose spaces.
Takeaway 3: Mental health awareness and team building are essential in boosting employee morale
Ray reveals her goal to boost morale on her team by focusing on mental health and using lighthearted approaches like “Fun Safety Fridays.” She explains that facility managers need to “meet the staff where they’re at” by taking an interest in their well-being.
Everyone has a role in creating a culture of connection and psychological safety in the workplace, where employees are comfortable being their true selves and sharing their experiences, which in turn boosts morale and productivity, she says.
Asset management insights
- There’s a growing emphasis on jobs that prioritize well-being over just the paycheck.
- Staff shortages and retention are significant challenges facing organizations today.
- The pandemic has highlighted the need for multipurpose functionality in spaces.
- There’s a need for more built-in safety features in buildings.
- Sustainability is a key concern in managing the built environment.
- There’s a rise in the use of new technology in safety gear and personal protective equipment, including gear specifically designed for women.
Listen to the full podcast here.
Go deeper. Dive into more episodes of Eptura’s Asset Champion podcasts.
By Jonathan Davis
Jonathan writes about asset management, maintenance software, and SaaS solutions in his role as a digital content creator at Eptura. He covers trends across industries, including fleet, manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality, with a focus on delivering thought leadership with actionable insights. Earlier in his career, he wrote textbooks, edited NPC dialogue for video games, and taught English as a foreign language. He holds a master's degree in journalism.
