Hybrid working businesses say they are more optimistic about their future profitability

Hybrid working businesses say they are more optimistic about their future profitability

by • Flexible working, News, Property

A new poll from flexible office provider International Workplace Group (IWG) claims that businesses operating with a hybrid working model are significantly more optimistic about growthA new poll from flexible office provider International Workplace Group (IWG) claims that businesses operating with a hybrid working model are significantly more optimistic about growth in the year ahead than those which do not offer employees flexibility about where they work. This follows a spate of so-called return-to-office-mandates from major corporates including Amazon and WPP. A study of more than 500 CEOs and senior business leaders by  found that 69 percent of businesses offering hybrid working had a positive outlook for 2025 compared to 44 percent of non-hybrid companies. More →

Demand for high quality office space continues to grow worldwide, and so do its costs

Demand for high quality office space continues to grow worldwide, and so do its costs

by • News, Property, Workplace design

Rents for prime office space across the globe rose by 0.3 percent and fit out costs by 0.2 percent in the final quarter of 2024, says SavillsRents for prime office space across the globe rose by 0.3 percent and fit out costs by 0.2 percent in the final quarter of 2024, says Savills, as demand for top quality office space continues to grow in many markets around the world. According to Savills in its latest quarterly Prime Office Costs report, in the fourth quarter of last year, average net effective costs rose slightly, by 0.1 percent, continuing a moderate upwards trend of 1.9 percent over 2024. London (West End), Hong Kong, and New York (Midtown) remain the top three locations in terms of costs of the 35 markets Savills examines. More →

Getting Zoom fatigue? Chances are you’re tired of looking at yourself

Getting Zoom fatigue? Chances are you’re tired of looking at yourself

by • News, Technology, Wellbeing

New research suggests that excessive self-monitoring during virtual meetings leads to dissatisfaction with appearance and Zoom fatigueThe rise of virtual meetings has transformed workplace communication, offering flexibility and global connectivity. However, this shift has not come without challenges, particularly in the form of virtual meeting (VM) fatigue, commonly referred to as “Zoom fatigue.” A new study published in the journal PLOS One examines how facial appearance dissatisfaction, impression management behaviours, and VM fatigue contribute to the adoption—or rejection—of virtual meeting technologies in professional settings. More →

Take up of flexible office space hits highest levels since 2019

Take up of flexible office space hits highest levels since 2019

by • News, Property

Research from Savills and its specialist firm Workthere claims that take-up of flexible office space from operators across the UK reached just over 1.06 million sq ft in 2024, which is the highest level since 2019Research from Savills and its specialist firm Workthere claims that take-up of flexible office space from operators across the UK reached just over 1.06 million sq ft in 2024, which is the highest level since 2019 and 12 percent above the total reached in 2023. In line with this growth, Workthere suggests that transaction levels were also up 35 percent, despite a moderate drop in enquiries by 12 percent from a 2023 peak (based on a 2022 index).  There were also positive signs in the make up of demand with Workthere reporting a 7 percent increase in the number of businesses entering a new market and a 33 percent increase from businesses outgoing their current space. More →

Furniture Makers to hold next sustainability event focussed on material choices

Furniture Makers to hold next sustainability event focussed on material choices

by • Environment, Furniture, News

he Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, is hosting its next sustainability event focussed on examining some of the established and widely used materials in the furniture and furnishings sectorThe Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, is hosting its next sustainability event focussed on examining some of the established and widely used materials in the furniture and furnishings sector. The seminar, which is sponsored by the Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme (FISP), Ocee & Four Design, Panaz and Satra Technology, will be held on Tuesday 4 March at Furniture Makers’ Hall, London. Organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, the event will include presentations on foam, fabrics, textiles, leather and wood. In addition, new materials will be discussed and the necessary investigations in relation to recycled content, future recyclability and other implications. More →

Demand for commercial property investment jumped in last quarter

Demand for commercial property investment jumped in last quarter

by • News, Property

There has been a significant surge in demand for commercial property investment, reflecting a marked recovery in the sectorThere has been a significant surge in demand for commercial property investment, reflecting a marked recovery in the sector, according to a new report from Rightmove. The platform attributes this rise to recent interest rate reductions by the Bank of England, which have made investment opportunities more affordable and appealing. Rightmove’s Quarterly Commercial Insights Tracker, which monitors supply and demand trends among the UK’s largest commercial property audience, revealed that overall demand for commercial property investment increased by 28 percent year-on-year in the final quarter of 2024. The office market also witnessed a notable increase, with demand for office space investment climbing by 57 percent year-on-year. More →

Most people are happy for AI to inform decisions about work, CIPD claims

Most people are happy for AI to inform decisions about work, CIPD claims

by • AI, News, Workplace

To coincide with National Productivity Week, a CIPD poll suggests that almost two thirds of people (63 percent) would trust artificial intelligence (AI) to inform - but not make - important decisions at workTo coincide with National Productivity Week, a CIPD poll suggests that almost two thirds of people (63 percent) would trust artificial intelligence (AI) to inform – but not make – important decisions at work. According to the poll of over 2,000 people, over a third (35 percent) wouldn’t trust AI to make important decisions at work, preferring to use human intelligence. Just 1 percent of respondents would trust AI to make important work decisions. More →

Half of people would quit their job if they thought their boss were spying on them. (And they are)

Half of people would quit their job if they thought their boss were spying on them. (And they are)

by • News, Technology, Workplace

More than half of British employees would quit their job if they were subjected to surveillance whilst working, but more than half of UK bosses say they cannot trust their employees without monitoring them, according to a new poll from ExpressVPN. The new study explores the views and experiences relating to the ‘workplace surveillance’ of 1,000 employees and 1,000 employers in the UK. While physical surveillance through the use of cameras and badge/pass scanners in the workplace is more widely known, the increase in remote working in recent years has driven the rise of online surveillance, according to the report. More →

Flexible working is not an option for many of Britain’s two-tier workforce

Flexible working is not an option for many of Britain’s two-tier workforce

by • Flexible working, News

A new report from the social enterprise Timewise claims to reveal a growing divide in the UK workforce, highlighting the increasing gap between frontline workers, such as nurses, cleaners, and bus drivers, and office-based employees when it comes to access to flexible working and other factorsA new report from the social enterprise Timewise claims to reveal a growing divide in the UK workforce, highlighting the increasing gap between frontline workers, such as nurses, cleaners, and bus drivers, and office-based employees when it comes to flexible working hours and patterns. This divide, the report suggests, could be reduced if the government takes further steps to implement its upcoming Employment Rights Bill. More →

Older workers enduring a ‘silent workplace mental health crisis’

Older workers enduring a ‘silent workplace mental health crisis’

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

A new poll from workplace mental health provider Unmind claims to highlight significant generational, gender, and role-based divides in attitudes towards workplace mental health and emerging technologies like AIA new poll from workplace mental health provider Unmind claims to highlight significant generational, gender, and role-based divides in attitudes towards workplace mental health and emerging technologies like AI. The study of 2,500 employees across the UK reveals that older workers feel particularly excluded from conversations around mental health, with stigma proving the biggest barrier to accessing support among this demographic. More →

People say they are more distracted by online meetings than those carried out in person

People say they are more distracted by online meetings than those carried out in person

by • News, Workplace

A new poll conducted by the London conference and events venue, The QEII Centre, claims that the economic value of distraction during meetings has risen to an estimated £20.7 billion per year, partly as a result of the shift to online meetingsA new poll conducted by the London conference and events venue, The QEII Centre, claims that the economic value of distraction during meetings has risen to an estimated £20.7 billion per year, partly as a result of the shift to online meetings. Based on a survey of over 1,000 UK desk-based workers, the research set out in the new report builds on findings from The QEII Centre’s inaugural 2023 Distracted Economy report. It claims that the cost of distraction in online and face-to-face meetings and events has increased from £19.9 billion in 2023 to £20.7 billion. In The QEII Centre’s latest Distracted Economy report, 80 percent of desk-based workers admit to losing concentration during meetings. Just over half (55 percent) say they are more likely to be distracted in online meetings compared to 16 percent for in-person meetings and 27 percent who find both equally distracting. More →

Businesses are cautiously optimistic despite economic and technological uncertainty

Businesses are cautiously optimistic despite economic and technological uncertainty

by • Business, News

Nearly three-in-five businesses optimistic about global economic outlook as they plan headcount increases and continued AI rolloutAlmost 60 percent of CEOs around the world expect global economic growth to increase over the next 12 months, according to PwC’s 28th Annual Global CEO Survey, launched during today’s World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. The report, which surveyed 4,701 CEOs across 109 countries and territories, also finds that 42 percent of businesses expect to increase headcount by 5 percent or more in the next 12 months – more than double the proportion who expect headcount decreases (17 percent), and up from 39 percent last year. The percentage is highest (48 percent) among smaller companies (less than US$100 million) and those in the technology (61 percent), real estate (61 percent), private equity (52 percent) and pharma and life sciences (51 percent) sectors. More →

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