Nestle signs pilot deal with co-working firm IWG allowing employees in China to work remotely, while DBS surrenders Hong Kong office space in nod to Covid-19
- Deal gives Nestle’s mainland China employees access to all of IWG’s 3,500 locations across the world
- DBS is surrendering two of the eight floors it occupies in Swire Properties’ One Island East tower: Bloomberg
Nestle and DBS are joining the ranks of organisations adapting to the coronavirus pandemic by switching to new work arrangements.
“The effects of Covid-19 have changed the way we work, and flexibility is important for not only our business continuity, but the productivity and well-being of our people,” said Natasha Zou, head of workplace solutions, Greater China Region, at Nestle.
The pandemic has curtailed people-to-people interactions, and an increasing number of companies are adopting new work arrangements and reducing their real estate footprint to tackle the situation. This is likely to affect the demand for office spaces across the world.
Nestle has signed an agreement with co-working space operator IWG that gives its employees in China access to all of IWG’s 3,500 locations across the world. Nestle has about 273,000 people worldwide, and 26,000 in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. “The partnership with IWG forms part of our flexible working concept – to create a better, healthier, more productive and sustainable working environment for Nestle employees throughout Greater China,” Zou said.
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The agreement is for a “minimum of a year with a view to extend after 12 months”, said Paul MacAndrew, IWG’s country manager in Hong Kong. The company, which operates spaces in more than 1,100 towns and cities in more than 120 countries, said the deal with Nestle was a pilot and could be scaled globally.
