About Neil Franklin

Neil Franklin is Insight's news editor

Posts by Neil Franklin:

Search begins for Britain’s best office dog

Search begins for Britain’s best office dog

by • News, Workplace

The aim of the competition to find Britain's best office dog is to highlight the important role that dogs play in workplace wellbeingBath-based workplace design firm  Interaction is inviting dog owners across the UK to nominate their canine colleagues and share a photo of their pets at work. The aim of the competition to find Britain’s best office dog is to highlight the important role that dogs play in workplace wellbeing. In the UK, households bought 3.2 million pets during lockdown – that’s a lot of new dogs for employees to consider. By supporting dog-friendly policies, the firm believes businesses can encourage these employees back into the office, whilst also reducing stress and improving engagement. More →

Three quarters of recruiters think young people aren’t prepared for working life

Three quarters of recruiters think young people aren’t prepared for working life

by • News, Workplace

The new report, Changing Face of the Youth Labour Market, claims to uncover a number of worrying insights into employers' perceptions of young workers and their readiness for working lifeA new poll from the the CIPD suggests that many UK employers believe young people aren’t ‘job-ready’ and lack important workplace skills, with a fall in earning and learning opportunities cited as a key reason. The new report, Changing Face of the Youth Labour Market, claims to uncover a number of worrying insights into employers’ perceptions of young workers and their readiness for working life. The study suggests that only just over a quarter (28 percent} of employers who hired individuals aged 16-24 in the past year believe that young people are well-prepared for the world of work. More →

Are men and women heard differently in the workplace? Have your say

Are men and women heard differently in the workplace? Have your say

by • News, Workplace

The organisers of Workplace Trends are conducting research into why some women or men are not always heard in their workplaceThose who attended the last Workplace Trends conference will recall that regular contributor Paige Hodsman (Saint-Gobain Ecophon) and the organisers are conducting research into why some women or men are not always heard in their workplace. They are now reaching out to more people to complete a 10 to 15 minute survey to inform this pertinent research.  You can take part by complete the survey here before the 24th of December. The survey also allows you to receive a copy of the findings or attend a free seminar once the research has been published.
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Majority of  ‘digital content creators’ don’t check facts but use likes on social media to gauge reliability of information

Majority of  ‘digital content creators’ don’t check facts but use likes on social media to gauge reliability of information

by • AI, News

At a time when digital content creators have become a major source of information for people, a new UNESCO survey suggests that 62 percent do not carry out any sort of rigorous fact-checking of information prior to sharing it. As well as demonstrating that fact-checking is rare, the survey finds that content creators have difficulty with determining the best criteria for assessing the credibility of information they find online. According to the poll, 42 percent of respondents said they used “the number of ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ a post had received” on social media as the main indicator of reliability. More →

Older workers will be essential in a changing global economy

Older workers will be essential in a changing global economy

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

A new report from consulting firm Bain & Company underscores the rising importance of older workers as global populations age and labour markets face growing talent shortagesA new report from consulting firm Bain & Company underscores the rising importance of older workers as global populations age and labour markets face growing talent shortages. The study focuses on the demographic of employees aged 50 and above, whose experience, stability, and institutional knowledge make them invaluable assets to businesses. It reveals that while older workers often demonstrate adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and a strong work ethic, organisations frequently overlook their contributions due to outdated stereotypes and rigid employment practices. More →

Poor job quality leaves people exhausted and at risk of ill health

Poor job quality leaves people exhausted and at risk of ill health

by • News, Wellbeing

A new report from the Institute for Employment Studies warns that poor job quality is significantly affecting people's health and wellbeingA new report from the Institute for Employment Studies warns that poor job quality is significantly affecting worker health, with 1.7 million people in Great Britain reporting work-related ill health in the last year. The research reveals that half of all workers report having to work more hours than contracted or expected – the highest rate in Europe. Rising work intensity and job strain have left around half of the UK workforce regularly exhausted. The impact of ill-health on spiralling economic inactivity is a focus of an anticipated government White Paper looking to tackle the ‘greatest employment challenge for a generation’ and support more people into good work. More →

Turns out people from Gen Z aren’t bone-idle and unambitious after all

Turns out people from Gen Z aren’t bone-idle and unambitious after all

by • News, Workplace

The work ethic of so-called Gen Z is alive and well, according to a new report. And they want to get on at workMore than a third of office employees (37 percent) feel their work ethic has improved over the past 12 months, according to a new study. This is particularly apparent among younger people such as those belonging to so-called Gen Z, as the figure rises to more than half of those aged 18-24 (55 percent) and 25-34 (57 percent). One in five (22 percent) suggest they ‘always go above and beyond’, with the same number saying that they will ‘do whatever needs to be done to deliver’. More →

Third of people hide their use of workplace AI from employers

Third of people hide their use of workplace AI from employers

by • AI

35 percent of workers admit to using workplace AI covertly to do tasks they were supposed to do themselves and didn’t tell their boss aboutA new poll from Access Group claims that 35 percent of workers admit to using workplace AI covertly to do tasks they were supposed to do themselves and didn’t tell their boss about, posing questions about the security of AI in the workplace. This figure jumps to 55 percent among 18-29 year-olds, with over a quarter (26 percent) confessing they’ve done this ‘many times’. In contrast, only 14 percent of over-60s admit to having used AI to gain an advantage. More →

Office attendance and desk use are on the rise as firms make most of real estate

Office attendance and desk use are on the rise as firms make most of real estate

by • News

office attendance and desk use continue to go up, although the provision of workstations has been reduced as part of an overall rationalisation of corporate real estateA new report from AWA claims that office attendance and desk use continue to go up, although the provision of workstations has been reduced as part of an overall rationalisation of corporate real estate. The report also suggests that this may have reached its optimal point right now as just 13 percent of UK organisations are considering further downsizing, suggesting that most firms think they may have reduced their real estate as far as they can. More →

Hybrid working means people feel as if they are always at work

Hybrid working means people feel as if they are always at work

by • News

The increasing uptake of hybrid working could be encouraging workers to respond to work requests and communication as if they are ‘always on’The increasing uptake of hybrid working could be encouraging workers to respond to work requests and communication as if they are ‘always on’, according to a Censuswide survey commissioned by Moneypenny of over 2,000 general UK consumers. The survey suggests that the majority (56 percent) are accepting work related communications out of hours. Of these workers, 13 percent said they’ve received work-related comms at any time of night or day. More →

Economic and political uncertainty continue to dampen commercial property market sentiment

Economic and political uncertainty continue to dampen commercial property market sentiment

by • News, Property

The outlook for the European commercial property market is cautiously optimistic despite growing geopolitical uncertainty and concerns about economic growthThe outlook for the European commercial property market is cautiously optimistic despite growing geopolitical uncertainty and concerns about economic growth, with London, Madrid and Paris emerging as the standout performers, according to a new report by PwC and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). The report – Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe 2025 outlines how market players believe ‘a new normal’ is emerging as valuations have come down and interest rates regain some level of predictability in a market characterised by higher inflation and interest rates, and geopolitical and economic uncertainties. This led to more than 80 percent of survey respondents expecting business confidence and profits to stay the same or rise in 2025, with around half predicting increases in both. More →

Most PRs and journalists now use generative AI to create content, but keep quiet about it

Most PRs and journalists now use generative AI to create content, but keep quiet about it

by • AI, News

A new report claims that while the majority of content writers in the UK’s PR and communications industry are using generative AI tools, most are doing so without their managers’ knowledgeA new report claims that while the majority of content writers in the UK’s PR and communications industry are using generative AI tools, most are doing so without their managers’ knowledge. The study, titled CheatGPT? Generative text AI use in the UK’s PR and communications profession, claims to be the first to explore the integration of generative AI (Gen AI) in the sector, uncovering both its benefits and the ethical dilemmas it presents. More →

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