Interview with Jacques Léonard, head of the flex office and teleworking project at BNP Paribas

We are approaching a different way of working

How do you see the workplace evolving?

Jacques Léonard - Over the last three or four years, we have been developing new ways of working by deploying environments that are in harmony with new uses. We have noticed that, overall, employees spend half their working time at their workstation, with the other half devoted to discussions and meetings at other sites. As a result, it is no longer necessary to have as many individual workstations as employees. At the same time, we are seeking to strengthen collaboration to improve the company's performance. Our current workspaces are limited to a few traditional meeting rooms. The Flex Office spaces that we are now offering in our new buildings give pride of place to collaborative spaces of all kinds to facilitate exchanges and enhance user-friendliness, with here and there places for traditional meetings, others with high tables for more informal exchanges, and still others with footstools and sofas to encourage brainstorming. It feels more like a coworking space or an advertising agency than a traditional banking environment.

How far have you got with the roll-out?

J. L. - Today, 10,000 employees in the Paris region, including subsidiaries, work in Flex Office. At the same time, we offer them the possibility of working from home, one or two days a week. Nearly 5,000 people have already made this choice. These working methods are based on autonomy, responsibility and trust. This requires sustained support, particularly from managers.

Is this development also being driven by the new generations?

J. L. - No, this change is in no way dictated by the demands of the new generation, but by a concern for the company's performance and for Good Place to Work, one of our values, which we want for our teams. It's true that younger people are very demanding and adapt naturally to these new environments.

What about data security when teleworking?

J. L. - This is a major point. We only give a team permission to telework after an in-depth study of the issue, taking into account our requirements and obligations in this area.

Are third places like coworking spaces suitable for teleworking?

J. L. - Third places in general can lend themselves to teleworking. However, at BNP Paribas, we do not currently have such a policy for reasons of security and, more specifically, to ensure that the confidentiality of these spaces is sufficient.