Designing How Work Feels: The Science Behind Sanofi’s Workplace Experience

Sanofi created a signature scent for all its offices. It’s part of a radical, science-backed strategy to design how work feels and attract top talent.

#1about 2 minutes

Shifting workplace management from finance to people and culture

Sanofi moved its workplace team from finance to people and culture to position the office as a tool for talent attraction and retention.

#2about 3 minutes

Creating an office experience that pulls people in

Sanofi focused on redesigning office spaces and services to create value before introducing a three-day-a-week mandate, making attendance a choice rather than a chore.

#3about 2 minutes

The four strategic pillars of workplace experience

The workplace strategy is built on four key pillars: culture and collaboration, sustainability and wellbeing, hospitality, and technology and innovation.

#4about 6 minutes

Leveraging the invisible elements of the workplace

Seemingly invisible factors like air quality and a unique company scent are intentionally designed to improve employee wellbeing and cognitive performance.

#5about 4 minutes

Using data to continuously improve the office environment

The workplace team uses data from occupancy and environmental sensors to understand furniture usage and employee behavior, enabling data-driven improvements.

#6about 4 minutes

How workplace experience boosts employer branding and recruitment

Showcasing the unique workplace experience in an employer branding campaign directly led to a significant increase in job applications.

#7about 3 minutes

A commitment to accessibility and neurodiversity support

Sanofi is implementing a global standard for full accessibility, including support for neurodiversity through tools like an accessibility lounge for testing equipment.

#8about 4 minutes

Balancing a global brand with local cultural relevance

Office designs are 60-70% globally standardized to create a sense of belonging, with 30-40% customized to reflect local culture and customs.

#9about 4 minutes

Learning the importance of the human touch in technology

An initial attempt to fully automate food ordering with an app failed because it removed the essential human interaction, highlighting the need to balance tech with hospitality.

#10about 4 minutes

Defining the ultimate KPI for workplace success

The most critical measure of success is overall employee satisfaction, shifting the focus away from traditional metrics like cost per square meter.

Notes and resources

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Roger Morawski, Global Head of Workplace Experience Brand Strategy at Sanofi, and Fernando Faria, Global Head of Workplace Transformation at Sanofi, about how global companies are redefining the workplace in the hybrid era.

They discuss Sanofi’s approach to workplace transformation, the four pillars behind its strategy, and the idea of “invisible workplace experiences” — the small details that shape how employees feel, collaborate, and perform at work. Roger and Fernando also explain how global workplace standards are combined with local adaptations, and how initiatives around design, accessibility, and employee experience connect to outcomes like talent attraction and employee satisfaction.