Hybrid working and the hidden cost of being “always on” at work

Hybrid working and the hidden cost of being “always on” at work

by • Comment, Flexible working, Wellbeing

Hybrid working has delivered welcome flexibility, but it has also changed our relationship with work. The traditional boundary created by leaving the office at the end of the day is often less defined when work is accessible from our kitchen table, spare room or mobile phone. Yet this challenge is not limited to those working remotely. Even employees who spend most of their time in the office now carry work with them through smartphones and constant digital connectivity. (more…)

Hubflow acquires 37 Lombard Street as it expands London office portfolio

Hubflow acquires 37 Lombard Street as it expands London office portfolio

by • Company news, Flexible working, Property

Flexible workspace provider Hubflow has acquired the freehold of its 37 Lombard Street site in the City of London as part of a strategy to combine workspace operations with ownership of the properties it occupies. The company has also confirmed plans to open more than 25,000 sq ft of additional flexible workspace across two central London locations, at 60 New Broad Street and 71 Queen Victoria Street, next month. Hubflow said the acquisition of 37 Lombard Street represents the next stage of its London office expansion strategy and a move towards an owner-operator model that differs from the lease-based approach adopted by many flexible workspace providers. (more…)

Gen Z workers are socialising more after returning to the office, study suggests

Gen Z workers are socialising more after returning to the office, study suggests

by • Flexible working, News

Almost one in three Generation Z employees say they are socialising more with colleagues since returning to the office more often, according to a new poll from career transition firm Careerminds UK. The survey of 600 UK employees found that 31.7 percent of Gen Z respondents said they socialise more with colleagues now they are spending more time in the workplace. Among millennials, the figure was 17.7 percent. The research was published during International Youth Employment Week and examined how employees’ workplace habits have changed since the return to office and hybrid working. (more…)

What frictionless work is removing from the working day

What frictionless work is removing from the working day

by • Comment, Flexible working, Wellbeing, Workplace design

If you look around most offices at midday on a Tuesday, you will likely see a variation of the same scene: employees sitting at their desks with headphones in and responding to Slack messages while eating lunch. The physical environment of the workplace may still be thoughtfully designed, with ergonomic furniture, curated lighting and acoustic panels; however, the atmosphere often still feels flat. Creating a highly optimised, frictionless workplace means removing physical hurdles and operational delays, but it can also strip away the small moments of variation, spontaneity and connection that give working life its texture. Often, the result of frictionless work is an environment that feels psychologically monotonous and socially thin. (more…)

Remote work linked to mental health concerns in major US study

Remote work linked to mental health concerns in major US study

by • Flexible working, News

A major new study has suggested that the rapid growth of remote work since the pandemic has played a significant role in rising levels of social isolation and poor mental health among workersA major new study has suggested that the rapid growth of remote work since the pandemic has played a significant role in rising levels of social isolation and poor mental health among workers, although researchers stress that the findings relate primarily to fully remote work rather than hybrid arrangements. The research, published in the journal Science, analysed data from five nationally representative surveys covering almost 590,000 US workers between 2011 and 2024. According to the authors, the expansion of remote work may account for around one third of the increase in mental distress recorded over that period. (more…)

Fathers who work from home fear ‘return to office’ rules could force them to quit, study claims

Fathers who work from home fear ‘return to office’ rules could force them to quit, study claims

by • Flexible working, News

More than one in six fathers who currently work from home say they would quit their job if required to return to the office full-timeMore than one in six fathers who currently work from home say they would quit their job if required to return to the office full-time, according to new research from King’s College London, which suggests employers risk losing experienced staff if they tighten office attendance policies. The report, When Fathers Work from Home, from the King’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, argues that remote working has become an important part of family life for many fathers, but warns that workplace cultures continue to discourage men from making full use of flexible working arrangements. (more…)

Narcissistic leaders are more likely to oppose remote work, study suggests

Narcissistic leaders are more likely to oppose remote work, study suggests

by • Flexible working, News

business leaders with stronger narcissistic tendencies are significantly more likely to resist remote work and hybrid working arrangements because they see them as a threat to their power and statusNow, we don’t usually want to fan the dying embers of the tedious, endless RTO v WFH conversation, but this is a potentially interesting addition to consider. According to a new study from researchers at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, business leaders with stronger narcissistic tendencies are significantly more likely to resist remote and hybrid working arrangements because they see them as a threat to their power and status. Published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, the study suggests that opposition to remote work may not be driven solely by concerns about productivity, collaboration or organisational performance. Instead, it may also stem from leaders’ personal motivations and psychological needs. (more…)

People value autonomy and flexibility more than workplace technology

People value autonomy and flexibility more than workplace technology

by • Flexible working, News, Technology, Wellbeing

People place greater value on autonomy and flexibility at work than on access to better workplace technology, according to new researchPeople place greater value on autonomy and flexibility at work than on access to better workplace technology, according to new research that suggests organisations may need to rethink how they approach workplace transformation projects. The survey found that a third of respondents (33 percent) identified autonomy as the most important element of a well-designed employee experience, while 30 percent cited flexibility. By comparison, 21 percent said improved digital tools were the most important factor and only 15 percent pointed to leadership that listens. The findings come at a time when organisations continue to invest heavily in artificial intelligence, automation and digital workplace programmes in an effort to improve productivity, engagement and performance. (more…)

Remote work linked to rising isolation and poorer mental health, study finds

Remote work linked to rising isolation and poorer mental health, study finds

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

The rapid growth of remote work since the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to increased social isolation and worsening mental health among workers, according to a major new studyThe rapid growth of remote work since the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to increased social isolation and worsening mental health among workers, according to a major new study published in the journal Science. Researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the University of Virginia and Harvard University analysed data from five nationally representative surveys covering nearly 590,000 American workers between 2011 and 2024. Their findings suggest that the shift towards home working may account for around one third of the rise in mental distress recorded in the United States since the pandemic. (more…)

Distractions at home undermine the benefits of remote work, study suggests

Distractions at home undermine the benefits of remote work, study suggests

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

New research from Durham University Business School suggests that remote work may undermine people’s wellbeing and productivity when domestic distractions interrupt the working day. The study, led by Professor Jakob Stollberger, found that interruptions from home life can disrupt concentration, reduce task completion and have a negative impact on employees’ wellbeing. Based on diary data from 87 remote workers across sectors including IT, finance and education, the research tracked participants’ experiences over a ten day period. Respondents reported their workload and wellbeing four times a day, allowing researchers to examine how work patterns and interruptions changed over time. (more…)

Women working from home or on reduced hours at greater risk of damaging their career

Women working from home or on reduced hours at greater risk of damaging their career

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

Women working from home or on reduced hours are at greater risk of losing their professional and managerial careers, but men are not affectedWomen working from home or on reduced hours are at greater risk of losing their professional and managerial careers, but men are not affected, new research suggests. Women professionals not working a standard week in the office were more likely to end up in less prestigious careers than those in full-time work, the study found. Sizhan Cui, of the University of Oxford, analysed survey data on 11,981 British women and 9,829 men gathered from 2010-2024 to link changes in careers to the use of flexible working arrangements such as working from home, part-time work, job sharing and flexitime. (more…)

Workplace as a third space: why good coffee and good WiFi still matter

Workplace as a third space: why good coffee and good WiFi still matter

by • Company news, Flexible working, Workplace

What do people want from their workplace? Good coffee and reliable WiFi are far more important than yoo might thinkThe office is no longer just a default location. Hybrid work has made it one option among many. At home, people have their own desk, their own music, their own kitchen. If the workplace is going to tempt them out, it needs something more than a chair and a meeting room. Fast WiFi and genuinely good coffee can change more about people’s experiences than you might expect. People might not talk about them much, but they notice when they are missing. Both influence how the day flows. When the internet is quick and the coffee is worth getting up for, the office starts to feel different. It becomes somewhere you do not just have to be, but somewhere you don’t mind spending time. (more…)

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