About Neil Franklin

Neil Franklin is Insight's news editor

Posts by Neil Franklin:

WORKS Magazine Issue 14 is here for you

WORKS Magazine Issue 14 is here for you

by • Premium Content, Workplace design

The new issue of WORKS magazine looks at a sector that is reaching equilibrium after five years of uncertaintyThe weather is fine and hopes are up for Clerkenwell Design Week and all the other events that flourish in the Spring sunshine. Yes, even in the UK. The new issue of WORKS magazine looks at a sector that is reaching equilibrium after five years of uncertainty. We visit exciting new projects in London, Manchester and Zurich; profile a man whose way of talking about the workplace we all echo, even those of us who have never read his work; take a look at the new generation of acoustic meeting rooms and pods; catch up with old friends to discuss the market; host a round table to ask if designers still get excited about office furniture; and there are all the features, comment and news you could ever need.

Online gig economy is failing to meet even the most basic labour standards

Online gig economy is failing to meet even the most basic labour standards

by • Flexible working, News, Technology

Most of the world’s leading online gig economy platforms are failing to uphold even the most basic labour standardsA major new report from Fairwork, a research network backed by the University of Oxford and WZB Berlin that researches the online gig economy, suggests that most of the world’s leading online work platforms are failing to uphold even the most basic labour standards. The Fairwork Cloudwork Ratings 2025 assess 16 of the world’s most widely used online work platforms on five core principles: fair pay, conditions, contracts, management, and representation. More →

UK suffers from a major disconnect between leaders and employees

UK suffers from a major disconnect between leaders and employees

by • News, Workplace

The UK is experiencing one of the largest disconnects in 'proximity leadership' between senior management and employees, according to a new European Workforce StudyThe UK is experiencing one of the largest disconnects in ‘proximity leadership’ between senior management and employees, according to a new European Workforce Study from Great Place To Work. Part of the organisation’s Leadership in Focus series, the study surveyed nearly 25,000 employees across 19 European countries and found a troubling gap between how leaders perceive their management style and how it is experienced by their teams. Proximity leadership refers to the ability of managers to build trust through regular, meaningful engagement—whether in-person, remote, or hybrid. It’s not about physical closeness, but about emotional and psychological presence: showing genuine interest, encouraging participation, listening actively, and recognising contributions. More →

Not waving but drowning. People feel optimistic about the use of AI in the workplace … and swamped by it

Not waving but drowning. People feel optimistic about the use of AI in the workplace … and swamped by it

by • AI, News, Wellbeing

As the use of AI in the workplace continues to rise, new research from Henley Business School reveals that while optimism about AI’s potential is on the rise, so is the feeling of being overwhelmed by its rapid developmenAs the use of AI in the workplace continues to rise, new research from Henley Business School reveals that while optimism about AI’s potential is on the rise, so is the feeling of being overwhelmed by its rapid development. A poll of 4,640 adults across nearly 30 major sectors, commissioned by The World of Work Institute at Henley Business School, reveals that over half (56 percent) of full-time professionals feel optimistic about AI advancements, yet 61 percent admit they are overwhelmed by the pace of change. More →

Mayors in the North of England launch ‘The Great North’ to drive economic growth and investment

Mayors in the North of England launch ‘The Great North’ to drive economic growth and investment

by • News, Property

A new partnership known as The Great North has been launched by mayors in the North of England to drive economic growth and investmentA new cross-regional partnership known as The Great North has been launched by the metropolitan mayors in the North of England, aiming to unlock economic growth, create jobs, and attract investment across the region. The initiative was unveiled at the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds, and marks what its founders call a new era of collaboration and locally driven prosperity. Chaired by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and supported by the UK Government, the body brings together northern leaders to focus on shared priorities such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defence, and the creative industries. The initiative has been endorsed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who described it as central to the government’s ambition to shift power from Whitehall into the hands of local communities. More →

Nearly two thirds of Europe’s workers say they experience Impostor Syndrome 

Nearly two thirds of Europe’s workers say they experience Impostor Syndrome 

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

A new survey by AI-based career tool Kickresume claims that impostor syndrome remains a widespread issue across European workplaces, affecting both personal wellbeing and professional developmentA new survey by AI-based career tool Kickresume claims that impostor syndrome remains a widespread issue across European workplaces, affecting both personal wellbeing and professional development. The study, which surveyed nearly 2,000 people, revealed that 63 percent of workers in Europe have experienced impostor syndrome at some point. More than half—56 percent—said they had turned down or missed out on opportunities as a result of these feelings of self-doubt. More →

Parlez vous Tik Tok? How social media is driving conflict and misunderstanding in the workplace

Parlez vous Tik Tok? How social media is driving conflict and misunderstanding in the workplace

by • News, Workplace

The way people communicate on social media is reshaping how they connect and collaborate with each other in the workplaceThe way people communicate on social media is reshaping how they connect and collaborate with each other in the workplace, according to research from The Adaptavist Group. The research suggests that platforms like TikTok and Instagram are directly influencing how 83 percent of people communicate professionally, fuelling conflict and misunderstanding amongst an increasingly intergenerational workforce. The findings, outlined in The Adaptavist Group’s Workplace Communication Atlas, were based on a survey of 1,000 UK knowledge workers conducted by Attest. More →

Purpose and autonomy are better predictors of job satisfaction than pay and status, major study finds

Purpose and autonomy are better predictors of job satisfaction than pay and status, major study finds

by • News, Wellbeing

The research offers new insights into the complex factors that shape job satisfaction and how people feel about their work and wider lives.The most satisfying jobs and fulfilling occupations are those that offer a strong sense of purpose and autonomy rather than high pay or prestige, according to what researchers are calling the most comprehensive study yet of job satisfaction. Led by Kätlin Anni at the University of Tartu in Estonia, the study analysed data from 59,000 individuals and 263 occupations as part of the Estonian Biobank project. The research, now published as a preprint on PsyArXiv, offers new insights into the complex factors that shape job satisfaction and how people feel about their work and wider lives. More →

Little evidence that hybrid working has encouraged high skilled people to relocate to cheaper regions

Little evidence that hybrid working has encouraged high skilled people to relocate to cheaper regions

by • Flexible working, News

the shift towards remote and hybrid working has not significantly changed where people live, nor has it helped to distribute talent more evenly across the countryA new report and series of policy briefings by a team of UK researchers suggest that the shift towards remote and hybrid working has not significantly changed where people live, nor has it helped to distribute talent more evenly across the country. Led by Professor Jackie Wahba OBE from the University of Southampton and Dr David McCollum from the University of St Andrews, the research was conducted by the ESRC Centre for Population Change and Connecting Generations, in collaboration with academics from the University of Birmingham, De Montfort University, and the University of the Arts London. The findings show that most remote workers continue to follow hybrid working patterns, splitting their time between home and the office while staying within commuting distance of major employment centres. This trend limits the potential to reduce regional inequalities or drive economic growth outside of London and the South East.

More →

Thousands of civil service jobs to relocate away from London

Thousands of civil service jobs to relocate away from London

by • News, Property

The UK government has unveiled a significant restructuring of the public sector, aiming to relocate 12,000 civil service jobs from LondonThe UK government has unveiled a significant restructuring of the public sector, aiming to relocate 12,000 civil service jobs from London to regional hubs across the country. This initiative is part of a broader effort to decentralise government operations, enhance efficiency, and bring decision-making closer to communities. As part of this plan, eleven government offices in London are slated for closure, including prominent sites such as the Ministry of Justice in Victoria, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Department for Work and Pensions at Caxton House. The consolidation is projected to save £94 million annually in property costs by 2032. More →

Employer confidence falls to record low as UK employers face rising costs and uncertainty

Employer confidence falls to record low as UK employers face rising costs and uncertainty

by • News, Workplace

The number of UK employers expecting to increase headcount in the next three months has fallen to a record low outside of the pandemicThe number of UK employers expecting to increase headcount in the next three months has fallen to a record low outside of the pandemic, as they grapple with rising employment costs and growing global uncertainties. This is according to the latest Labour Market Outlook report from the CIPD, which shows that the rate of employers expecting to increase headcount has fallen sharply among large private sector employers, and in retail in particular. In response, the CIPD is urging the government to closely consult with employers and business bodies to limit the potential impact the Employment Rights Bill could have on employer’s hiring plans as businesses face mounting external pressures. More →

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 →

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