In today’s evolving corporate landscape, the definition of workplace excellence is being reimagined—and Standard Chartered is leading the charge. In a time when employee well-being and sustainability are no longer optional, this global banking giant is setting a new standard by aligning its real estate strategy with the WELL Building Standard. The result? A transformative, people-first approach to corporate infrastructure that is as ambitious as it is inspiring.
This is not just about workplace design. It’s about fundamentally redefining how global corporations view performance, talent, inclusion, and sustainability in the 21st century.
A Bold Commitment at Global Scale
With over 800 locations across 53 markets and 8.5 million square feet of occupied space, Standard Chartered’s decision to embed WELL strategies across its global footprint is nothing short of revolutionary. Through a combination of WELL Certifications, Health-Safety Ratings, and Equity Ratings, the Bank is sending a clear message: investing in employee and client well-being is not only a moral obligation but also a strategic business imperative.
To date, the Bank has achieved:
- WELL Health-Safety Ratings across 158 global locations.
- WELL Equity Ratings across nine key offices in diverse cities like Mumbai, Singapore, Lusaka, and Warsaw.
- Landmark achievements such as the first-ever WELL Equity Rating in Africa (Lusaka) and the first WELL Certified building in Vietnam (Hanoi).
These milestones aren't trophies—they're evidence of a systemic shift in how Standard Chartered envisions the workplace: as a vehicle for health, equity, and sustainable performance.
The WELL at Scale Approach: Strategy Meets Science
What sets Standard Chartered apart is its application of the WELL at scale pathway, a systematic, enterprise-level deployment of WELL’s evidence-based design and management practices. By integrating WELL’s 10 core concepts—Air, Water, Nourishment, Movement, Light, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, and Community—into its facilities and policies, the bank creates workplaces that support physical and mental well-being holistically.
In an interview with the International WELL Building Institute’s (IWBI) Jack Noonan, Standard Chartered’s Shelley Boland, Global Head of Corporate Real Estate & Services, emphasized how WELL at scale helps the Bank meet broader ESG and business goals.
“Our commitment to client and employee well-being is integral to how we deliver consistent, high-quality service globally. WELL at scale provides the framework we need to uphold that promise while aligning with our $1.5 billion workplace investment strategy.”
People-First Strategy: More Than a Buzzword
The WELL framework supports Standard Chartered in attracting, retaining, and nurturing top talent. The bank has embedded features like:
- Annual indoor air quality testing, now evolving into real-time air quality monitoring—a move based on research linking CO₂ levels to declines in cognitive performance.
- Mental health support via Unmind, an enhanced Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 access to therapists, coaches, and legal/financial guidance.
- Unmind Manager, a resource toolkit helping line managers build mental health literacy and support their teams more effectively.
These initiatives aren’t just progressive—they’re proving effective. Standard Chartered’s 2024 Inclusion Index rose to 82.08%, with a +3 point gain in work-life balance satisfaction, according to its internal Employee Engagement Survey.
Design That Speaks to Diversity
The Bank is also leading in the realm of inclusive design, particularly for neurodiverse employees. Flexible work arrangements, sensory-friendly workspaces, better signage, and quiet zones are among the small yet impactful adjustments being introduced. In an increasingly remote and hybrid work world, such measures demonstrate the importance of designing workplaces for all people, not just the majority.
Local Innovations, Global Impact
Standard Chartered’s Capitol Tower in Hanoi, recently awarded the first WELL Certification in Vietnam, illustrates the bank’s ability to tailor global standards to local realities. This Gold-level project features:
- Advanced indoor air and water purification systems.
- Biophilic design elements, including indoor gardens and abundant natural light.
- Thoughtful spatial layouts that promote collaboration and quiet focus.
This landmark certification required collaboration across property owners, HR teams, and sustainability experts, showing how interdisciplinary cooperation can fuel innovation and set new benchmarks.
What’s Next for Standard Chartered?
Looking forward, the bank’s WELL journey continues with ambitious goals for 2025 and beyond:
- Expanding the WELL Equity Rating to 11 additional buildings, covering half its global workforce.
- Platinum-level WELL and LEED certifications at its new Marina office in Chennai, which will integrate smart lighting and cooling, rainwater harvesting, and wellness-focused green spaces.
- Scaling WELL at scale with support from partners like Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, and Turner & Townsend, embedding wellness into every corner of the bank’s real estate portfolio.
As Boland explains, “We see corporate real estate not just as a cost center, but as a key lever in delivering performance, sustainability, and equity.”
The Thought Leadership Takeaway
Standard Chartered’s adoption of the WELL Building Standard is more than an architectural or operational shift—it’s a paradigm change in what it means to be a future-ready corporation. In a world grappling with burnout, inequality, climate change, and volatile labor markets, the bank’s people-first infrastructure strategy is a model other multinationals would do well to study—and emulate.
Because when you prioritize human well-being in your physical and organizational structures, everything else follows: performance, loyalty, innovation, and resilience.
Standard Chartered’s WELL story is not just a corporate best practice; it is a clarion call for global businesses to rethink workspaces not as places we go to get work done, but as ecosystems where human potential thrives.
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