Hewlett Packard Enterprise announced that it has opened a new head office in Toronto, Canada, designed to enhance team members’ onsite experiences; from facilitating collaboration, heightening culture-building, and providing amenities to let teams get the greatest benefit that coming together affords while maximizing flexibility and wellness.
In 2021, HPE created the Edge-to-Office experience, which prioritizes flexibility and choice in the balance between office and remote work while maintaining a strong culture and connectedness. Offices, such as the new campus in Toronto, are envisioned and transformed into hubs for collaboration and social interaction, rather than full time dedicated workstations.
“HPE approached the work-from-home situation from two angles – as both an employer of 60,000+ team members, and as an IT infrastructure provider that companies rely on to help unlock value from their own data and technology,” said Mike Hilton, president and managing director, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada. “We needed to be an example we could point to when speaking with our clients on how to adapt to hybrid or distributed environments, so Edge-to-Office is part of our DNA. And for us, when we talk about our workplace, we’re not necessarily talking about a physical location, but rather, it’s the team member experience and ways that we show up for each other and our clients every day. We continue to invest in tools and resources to keep team members connected and promote collaboration, for both in-person and virtual environments.”
The new Canadian head office provides a dynamic and collaborative culture in which HPE team members can thrive, with a particular emphasis on graduates. For those starting their careers, hands-on training and support is beneficial, and the camaraderie and social aspects of working life help shape their unique experiences. Wellness and the environment are also a crucial part of the site’s DNA, with large amounts of bike parking, outdoor spaces with seating and tables, as a fitness center, showers, lockers, a cafe, and an eatery on site. The new space also boasts a Customer Innovation Center, allowing HPE to host customers and partners for executive briefings, workshops and technology showcases.
The workplace cultural evolution was underway at HPE well before the sudden arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, HPE was leading innovation that enabled employees to work remotely or under a hybrid in-office/remote model. As much as 60 per cent of the HPE workforce routinely worked outside the office, underscoring team member preference for flexible working conditions and productivity while offsite. HPE regularly surveys team members regarding their preferences for HPE’s work environment, and the data showed that team members enjoy the flexibility to work outside the office, preferring to use the office for collaboration and social connections.
“The Edge-to-Office program has been a boon for the company and team members. With hybrid working situations the norm, we can pull talent from all over the country, no longer bound by long commutes. The flexibility allows our colleagues the opportunity to fit HPE into their lives, rather than the other way around,” added Hilton.
