About Neil Franklin

Neil Franklin is Insight's news editor

Posts by Neil Franklin:

People want the flexibility of hybrid work, but don’t want to go fully remote

People want the flexibility of hybrid work, but don’t want to go fully remote

hybrid work has become the preferred working model worldwide, with a significant impact on productivity, employee satisfaction, and workplace connectivityA new survey conducted by Zoom in collaboration with Reworked INSIGHTS claims that hybrid work has become the preferred working model worldwide, with a significant impact on productivity, employee satisfaction, and workplace connectivity. The survey, titled “Navigating the Future of Work: Global Perspectives on Hybrid Models and Technology [registration] sets out to explore the evolving nature of work, focusing on global trends in workplace flexibility, employee preferences, and the growing role of generative AI. (more…)

The best leaders invite people to challenge them … and don’t punish them when they do

The best leaders invite people to challenge them … and don’t punish them when they do

Leaders should foster a culture of positive, constructive challenge, which can help mitigate risks and improve decision makingLeaders should foster a culture of positive, constructive challenge, which can help mitigate risks and improve decision making, according to experts at Imperial College Business School. In a new white paper, researchers from Imperial’s Centre for Responsible Leadership analysed the strategies that leaders can implement to successfully elicit challenge from their teams. The paper contains key lessons and evidence-based recommendations for leaders to encourage challenge, that can be applied to a wide range of organisations. (more…)

Government hub named one of the world’s leading workplaces

Government hub named one of the world’s leading workplaces

 

This unprepossessing building in Peterborough has been named as one of the world's leading workplaces by the Leesman IndexThis unprepossessing building in Peterborough has been named as one of the world’s leading workplaces by Leesman. The Government Property Agency (GPA) office hub building is the second building belonging to the GPA that has achieved Leesman+ certification – global recognition of exceptional workplace experiences which only six public sector offices worldwide have ever attained. (more…)

People think GenAI is perfectly fine in their own work. For others, not so much

People think GenAI is perfectly fine in their own work. For others, not so much

 

Interestingly, it seems acceptable to use GenAI for ourselves but less so for othersPeople are commonly blind to how much influence Generative AI (GenAI) has over their work, when they choose to enlist the support of technologies such as Chat GPT to complete professional or educational tasks, new research finds. The study, carried out by associate professors Dr Mirjam Tuk and Dr Anne Kathrin Klesse alongside PhD candidate Begum Celiktutan at Rotterdam School of Management Erasmus University, claims to reveal a significant discrepancy between what people consider to be an acceptable level of AI use in professional tasks, and how much impact the technology actually has on their work. (more…)

Hybrid workers are more likely than colleagues to report poor mental health

Hybrid workers are more likely than colleagues to report poor mental health

Hybrid workers are the group most likely to say that work has a negative toll on their mental health, according to a new surveyHybrid workers are the group most likely to say that work has a negative toll on their mental health, according to a new survey from Pluxee UK. Two-fifths (42 percent) of hybrid workers reported that work negatively affects their mental wellbeing, compared to 32 percent of fully remote and 30 percent of fully office-based employees. The report claims thatits  findings highlight that while hybrid working offers flexibility, it requires thoughtful support to ensure employee wellbeing and work-life balance. (more…)

Firms are betting big on the impact of AI on their business

Firms are betting big on the impact of AI on their business

 

Big AI bets are being made globally with nearly one in 10 businesses spending over $25m this year on AI initiativesA new report published by consulting firm Searce claims that organisations across the UK and US are making significant investments in artificial intelligence this year with nearly one in 10 decision-makers in both the UK (8 percent) and US (7 percent) planning to spend over $25 million. The 2024 State of AI report [registration] is based on a poll of 300 C-Suite and senior technology executives – including Chief AI Officers, Chief Data & Analytics Officers, Chief Transformation Officers, and Chief Digital Officers – at organisations with at least $500 million in revenue. The research examines some of the biggest trends, successes, and challenges facing businesses in their artificial intelligence decision-making, strategy, and execution. (more…)

Is this last orders for the post-work drink?

Is this last orders for the post-work drink?

 

The traditional post-work drink may be falling from favour as a shift in attitudes means people increasingly prefer daytime social gatherings, a new poll claimsThe traditional post-work drink may be falling from favour as a shift in attitudes and working culture means people increasingly prefer daytime social gatherings, a new poll claims. Employers are being encouraged to move away from pub outings as a means of socialising, instead fostering “inclusive and healthy workplace cultures” that cater to employees who don’t drink alcohol or work remotely. As four different generations now share the workplace, new expectations around employee health and wellbeing are emerging, according to the survey commissioned by the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD). (more…)

How do you encourage people to spend more time in the office? Here are seven things to consider

How do you encourage people to spend more time in the office? Here are seven things to consider

 

In a world in which people have more choice about how and where to work, how do you encourage people to spend more time in the office without issuing controversial mandates?

In a world in which people have more choice about how and where to work, how do you encourage people to spend more time in the office without issuing controversial mandates? Some of the UK’s most high-profile workplace, design, property and facilities management experts met recently at the London showroom of MillerKnoll to discuss the answers to this, one of the most vexed questions of recent years. How do you create workplaces that meet the needs of people who have more choices than ever of how, when and where to work? And its corollary: if you want people to spend more time in the office with each other, how do you entice them to do so without making it an obligation? (more…)

Endlessly distracted? Get some focus with the new issue of IN Magazine

Endlessly distracted? Get some focus with the new issue of IN Magazine

 

t's a bit of a bumper issue. The digital edition of the new IN Magazine is available for you here.

It’s a bit of a bumper issue. The digital edition of the new IN Magazine is available for you here. Inside you will find: our special supplement on how to encourage people to spend more time in the office (if you and they want to); Peggie Rothe of Leesman talking about how to optimise the workplace experience (and why you need to do it); Jo Knight cutting through yet another layer of sustainability BS; Stephanie Fitzgerald grappling with AI; a look back on the new direction for office design heralded thirty years ago by three new products; and a recent look back on Clerkenwell Design Week; a visit to an installation that shows how Sheffield is reinventing itself; a look at what happens when firms monitor staff (they monitor the firm right back); alternatives to our conception of the working day; how firms are building new relationships with remote staff; how Mark Eltringham can’t even be happy reading a book he agrees with; and the final word on the most complained about aspect of work.      (more…)

Remote work is holding back innovation, study claims

Remote work is holding back innovation, study claims

Remote work and 'hybrid working' models may greatly enhance employees' work-life balance, but new research suggests they might also be stifling innovationRemote work and ‘hybrid working’ models may greatly enhance employees’ work-life balance, but new research suggests they might also be stifling innovation. The study, led by economists from the University of Essex and the University of Chicago found that employees who worked in a hybrid model were less likely to come up with innovative ideas compared to their colleagues who always worked in the office. Additionally, employees working entirely from home tended to produce lower quality ideas than those who consistently worked in the office. (more…)

Tech workers and young people will need a major skills upgrade if they are to keep up with AI

Tech workers and young people will need a major skills upgrade if they are to keep up with AI

The vast majority (92 percent) of ICT roles are expected to undergo big changes as a result of advancements in AIThe vast majority (92 percent) of ICT roles are expected to undergo big changes as a result of advancements in artificial intelligence and the technology continues to transform the information and communications (ICT) sector according to a new report from tech giants, Cisco, Microsoft and Google. The AI-enabled ICT Workforce Consortium, led by Cisco has published the “Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs” report, offering guidance on the areas for of concern for workers to reskill in response to the evolving job landscape. This transformation will impact professionals in 47 ICT roles, including cybersecurity, data science and software development, according to the report. (more…)

Working with AI drives innovation, but business leaders are sceptical

Working with AI drives innovation, but business leaders are sceptical

Collaborating with AI increases the volume, diversity and detail of new ideas from business leaders according to a new poll from design consultancy IDEO.Collaborating with artificial intelligence increases the volume, diversity and detail of new ideas from business leaders according to a new poll from design consultancy IDEO. The survey also suggests that using AI to accelerate innovation rather than efficiency can increase growth by more than a third. In the study 1,000 business leaders answered a brief to design new products and services that could achieve both growth and sustainability objectives. Business leaders who received AI generated questions to help with ideation in response to the brief produced 56 percent more ideas, with a 13 percent increase in the diversity of ideas and a 27 percent increase in the level of detail compared to a control group who were not provided with artificial intelligence prompts.    (more…)