Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Kansas | Enticing Employees
By KIM GRONNIGER | Photos by BRIAN PETERS
Nicki Flanagan, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS), experienced an “aha!” moment while touring Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus in 2023.
Noticing architectural features and niceties similar to those other universities have implemented, Flanagan said, “Students are used to collaborative spaces, making modern space table stakes for employers. We strive to be an employer of choice and investing in campus infrastructure has been a key focus of our employee experience strategy. It’s a crucial investment for employers who want to recruit top talent, as well as retain and engage their existing workforce.”
President and CEO Matt All said, “Our employees are our greatest assets. It’s important that we invest not only in their personal development, but in their workspaces as well. By modernizing our workspaces, we’re not only encouraging collaboration amongst teams but ensuring our employees have the best environment possible to do their work serving our fellow Kansans.”
Although BCBSKS offers multiple employee benefits, including access to a 24/7 onsite fitness center, Flanagan said its physical surroundings were dated. The outdoor patio’s picnic tables were rarely used, while the café was often overlooked as an ideal space to hold team meetings.
The company has since reimagined these spaces to have multiple uses and advantages for employees with onsite, hybrid or remote work schedules.
“We’ve kept work schedules flexible so employees can do what’s best for them, but we hope our environmental strategy will encourage employees to come to the office occasionally, even if it’s just to enjoy lunch with coworkers or collaborate on a project,” she said.
Long known for the quality of its café fare and its accessibility to the public, BCBSKS repurposed a former lobby supply closet into a welcoming Dialogue Coffee branch operated by the Capper Foundation.
When Dialogue Coffee opened in April, employee attendance numbers skyrocketed.
Flanagan credited Rick Reaves, director of facilities, for the idea to bring in Dialogue Coffee. He said that it’s been a pleasure to watch employees interact while waiting for their coffee.
“We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Capper and having this opportunity to partner with them onsite creates synergy and helps our employees lean into inclusivity,” she said. “It’s great to see the hustle and bustle in the lobby and the sweet notes on coffee cups.”
In addition to renovating the Dialogue Coffee space, HTK Architects enhanced the company’s café, adding gas fireplaces, moveable furnishings, comfortable booths and countertop seating for group meetings. The space opened in December 2023.
The outdoor patio designed by SDG Architecture + Interiors features several disability-accessible levels and steel pergolas. There is also a Zen garden, waterfall, fire pit and lounge area with tables and chairs, making it a perfect space to enjoy a quiet lunch or gather in groups.
“Instead of looking at work as somewhere you go, we look at it as something you do, so we want to have multiple modern spaces that our employees can access throughout the day,” Flanagan said. “When they’re here, we want them to feel at home.”
That concept of home also extends to the company’s family-friendly focus. “You can bring your family here to eat lunch with you and enjoy the spaces, too,” she said.
Reaves said the new café and outdoor spaces have increased the number of employees who now prefer to have team meetings onsite, instead of going elsewhere in the community, because of the convenience and the ambience. Additionally, other employees downtown have discovered the appeal of the café and Dialogue Coffee, creating an additional uptick in traffic.
“When we have vendors here for meetings, they often take their calls and work here instead of going back to their hotel rooms because they feel so comfortable,” Flanagan said.
“When we first started this project, a lot of people said ‘why’ and then when they saw the transformation, they said ‘wow’ and ‘oh, my gosh,’” Reaves said.
In addition to aesthetics, patio work had to include considerations for noise, maintenance and sustainability.
The Zen garden’s purpose is twofold — to add a place for contemplation with a Capitol backdrop and provide a pretty view from the indoor private dining room. The tiles on the patio have PVC pipes underneath so they can be easily popped out for maintenance needs. Lights, fans and fireplaces are automated. When real grass wasn’t feasible for the fire pit area, artificial turf became a viable substitute. Benches made from composite wood were bent to complement the curved elements throughout the space.
“Our environmental strategy is working,” Flanagan said. “When I visited with our CEO, Matt All, about how important it is to invest in our people and our infrastructure, he provided his full support. I told Rick to run with our ideas and it’s so gratifying to see everything come to fruition.”
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