Search Results for: pandemic

Most organisations now think they reduced their office space too much in the wake of the pandemic

Most organisations now think they reduced their office space too much in the wake of the pandemic

by • Flexible working, News, Property, Workplace design

According to The Office Occupiers Report 2025 from Irwin Mitchell nearly two-thirds of the organisations surveyed now believe they may have downsized their office space too much over the past few years.Most UK businesses now believe they got their office space strategies wrong in the wake of the pandemic. According to The Office Occupiers Report 2025 from Irwin Mitchell nearly two-thirds of the organisations surveyed now believe they may have downsized their office space too much over the past few years. Consequently, 45 percent are planning to expand their office footprint within the next 12 to 18 months, compared to just 10 percent considering further reductions. (more…)

Sick days rise 41 percent over last three years as business productivity falls post-pandemic

Sick days rise 41 percent over last three years as business productivity falls post-pandemic

by • News

sick daysSick days have surged by 41 percent over the past three years as employers continue to struggle with declining levels of productivity. The latest Hiring Trends Index by Totaljobs, surveying 1000 UK HR decision-makers, highlights how this rise in absenteeism is perpetuating a cycle of poor business performance affecting both employers and employees. (more…)

Since the pandemic, people now work six fewer months over the course of their lives

Since the pandemic, people now work six fewer months over the course of their lives

by • News, Wellbeing

As the UK government warns that the state pension age might need to rise, a new report from the the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC) claims that, between 2019 and 2022, people’s work span in the UK fell by 6 months. The report argues that, to enable more people to stay healthy and be in work for longer, the next government should invest more in preventing ill health, supporting people to stay in work and building healthier behaviours. (more…)

The pandemic may have changed our personalities, say researchers

The pandemic may have changed our personalities, say researchers

by • Flexible working, News

While we often view personality as a fixed entity, a new study suggests the COVID-19 pandemic may have left a subtle but enduring mark on some aspects of our personalities. Published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, the research suggests that while significant personality changes weren’t widespread, conscientiousness levels generally increased throughout the pandemic, while extraversion dipped slightly. Interestingly, openness to new experiences remained relatively stable. (more…)

UK office occupancy levels reach post-pandemic peak

UK office occupancy levels reach post-pandemic peak

by • Facilities management, News, Property

New data from Remit Consulting suggests that UK office occupancy rates have risen to their highest level since the start of the pandemic.New data from Remit Consulting suggests that UK office occupancy rates have risen to their highest level since the start of the pandemic. Although still below pre-pandemic levels, the data indicates a gradual return to more office-based work patterns. The ReTurn Report is compiled by Remit Consulting each week. It uses data provided by building managers in ten cities based on their property’s access control systems. (more…)

Wellbeing of HR professionals yet to return to pre-pandemic levels

Wellbeing of HR professionals yet to return to pre-pandemic levels

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

The wellbeing of HR professionals has yet to return to pre-pandemic levelsThe wellbeing of HR professionals has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, with UK HRs in particular lagging at times behind their global counterparts when coping with today’s challenging economic and operating conditions.  This is according to a three-year comparative research project by Culture Amp and Thrive at Monash Business School, which found that in 2020, when the pandemic was first starting to bite, 45 percent of global HRs felt equipped to manage their own  personal and work life demands. (more…)

Pipeline of women managers has stalled in wake of pandemic

Pipeline of women managers has stalled in wake of pandemic

by • News, Workplace

The leadership pipeline for women has hollowed out in the middle, according to a new study “Women in leadership: Why perception outpaces the pipeline—and what to do about it” from IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) and Chief. The study of 2,500 organisations in 12 countries and 10 industries found a small increase in the number of women at the C-suite and Board level (now 12 percent for both), and an increase to 40 percent representation of women in junior professional/specialist roles (37 percent in 2021). However, the pipeline for top leadership positions still hasn’t recovered to pre-pandemic levels – 14 percent representation of women in senior vice president roles (18 percent in 2019) and 16 percent in vice president roles (19 percent in 2019). (more…)

UK will be only developed country in world with lower employment in 2023 than pre-pandemic

UK will be only developed country in world with lower employment in 2023 than pre-pandemic

by • News, Workplace

The cover image of the report into UK employment, consisting of a large arrow made up of numerous peopleA new report claims that the UK is undergoing one of the worst employment recoveries in the world, fuelled by a shrinking workforce and lack of access to effective employment support. Coming the week after the Bank of England forecast that unemployment could rise by half a million next year, and a week before the government announces its new spending plans, the case for reforms to how we help people and employers to fill jobs has never been stronger. (more…)

Offices remain largely unchanged in wake of pandemic

Offices remain largely unchanged in wake of pandemic

by • Flexible working, News, Technology, Workplace design

MIcrosoft offices IrelandMost businesses are failing to invest in collaborative offices that could encourage people to spend more time in them and take advantage of new work cultures, a report claims. More than four in five UK workers (83 percent) surveyed by YouGov on behalf of Microsoft Surface find themselves still in the same office environment as before the pandemic. The majority of those surveyed believe that office work is better suited to both socialising with colleagues (57 percent) and strengthening relationships with colleagues (65 percent) compared to remote work. (more…)

Office utilisation in US returning to pre-pandemic levels, but structural changes remain

Office utilisation in US returning to pre-pandemic levels, but structural changes remain

by • News, Property

office utilisation returning to normal?A new report from JLL claims that utilisation rates of US offices are returning to something closer to those of the pre-pandemic world, although hybrid working remains a far more widespread working practice than before. In addition, the focus of the market is shifting away from major city centres towards smaller, regional towns and cities. The US Office Outlook Report [registration] also suggests that higher quality office space is essential as lower grade offices are more likely to remain abandoned. (more…)

Company culture improved thanks to pandemic, think half of workers. Half don’t.

Company culture improved thanks to pandemic, think half of workers. Half don’t.

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

company cultureA new survey from Qualtrics claims that workers have mixed views on the impact of the pandemic on company culture. Half of European employees felt the pandemic had a positive impact on company culture – according to employees in France (50 percent), Germany (48 percent) and the UK (62 percent). Those who experienced positive changes to company culture in the last two years, cited this as being a result of an increase in open and honest communication from the business and feeling heard by the organisation. In fact, over half of workers across all markets say receiving increased communication from the company has been important (FR: 55 percent, DE: 56 percent, UK: 59 percent). (more…)

Generational careers divide opens up in wake of pandemic

Generational careers divide opens up in wake of pandemic

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

careers divideAlmost half of UK employees aged between 18 and 24 think that COVID-19 has decreased the importance placed on their careers, compared to 35 percent of 55-64 year-olds. And more than half think the pandemic has negatively impacted their career progression, compared to just 35 percent of 35-44 year olds and 17 percent of 54-65 year olds. Those are the key findings of a poll presented in a report from Employment Hero, shows that COVID-19 has caused a widening generational divide in the career motivation and wellbeing of UK employees. (more…)

1 2 3 4 5 >»