May 27, 2026
May 26, 2026
European workers upbeat about jobs despite low engagement, says Gallup poll
by Neil Franklin • News, Workplace
European workers are increasingly optimistic about their chances of finding a new job, despite having some of the worst engagement levels of any employees in the world, according to new Gallup research. The results of the poll suggest that over half (57 percent) of European employees thought it was a good time to find a job in their local market in 2025, maintaining record highs and representing the region’s strongest increase in job optimism since 2011. (more…)
May 26, 2026
Government report warns of ‘economic catastrophe’ as young people struggle with mental health
by Neil Franklin • News, Wellbeing, Workplace
Former health secretary Alan Milburn has warned that Britain risks a “generational, societal and economic catastrophe” unless employers and government adapt to rising levels of poor mental health among young people. An interim review led by Milburn into the growing number of 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training argues that businesses will need to provide greater flexibility, pastoral care and mental health support to what he describes as an “anxious generation”. (more…)
May 21, 2026
Companies are adopting AI more quickly than their staff can adapt
by Neil Franklin • AI, News, Workplace
Adecco has warned that companies are accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence faster than they are preparing their workforces for the change, according to a new global study of senior business leaders. The report, The Human Premium: Leadership Beyond the Algorithm, is based on a survey of 2,000 executives across 13 countries whose organisations collectively employ more than 8.6 million people. It highlights what Adecco describes as a growing gap between AI ambition and organisational readiness. (more…)
May 20, 2026
Corporate real estate strategy will be defined by resilience now, report suggests
by Neil Franklin • News, Property
Resilience, not scale or speed, will define the next phase of corporate real estate strategy across EMEA, as occupiers face a convergence of pressures reshaping how and where they operate. A new report from Colliers, Building Resilience: 5 Megatrends Redefining Corporate Real Estate, identifies five long-term megatrends – AI-enabled workforces, demographic shifts, energy scarcity, climate risk and a shifting global order – that are fundamentally changing how organisations choose locations, design workplaces and manage risk. While the full impact will play out over time, many companies remain underprepared for the scale of disruption. (more…)
May 18, 2026
Businesses are currently more focussed on keeping down costs than growth
by Neil Franklin • Business, News
UK employers are prioritising cost management over growth as rising business costs and global uncertainty continue to weigh on confidence. This is according to the latest Labour Market Outlook from the CIPD. The survey of more than 2,000 UK employers found that cost management is now the top priority for organisations of all sizes and across all sectors, ahead of improving productivity and growing market share. (more…)
May 18, 2026
UK is trapped in reactive cycle of sickness and inactivity, warn wellbeing experts
by Neil Franklin • News, Wellbeing, Workplace
Business leaders, policymakers and workplace experts have warned that the UK’s fragmented approach to work, wellbeing and welfare is undermining economic resilience, with comparisons to Denmark highlighting the pressure placed on the NHS and benefits system in Britain. The warning came during a Westminster roundtable for the Policy Liaison Group on Workplace Wellbeing chaired by Dame Carol Black on 13 May. The discussion followed shortly after the King’s Speech opened the new parliamentary session with a renewed emphasis on “economic security”. Participants argued that Britain’s rising levels of long-term sickness and economic inactivity will require a more coordinated approach involving employers, government departments, healthcare systems and insurers. (more…)
May 15, 2026
London is the second most expensive office fit-out market in the world
by Neil Franklin • News, Property, Workplace design
A new report from Turner & Townsend claims that a combination of a rise in demand for premium, Grade A office space and a shortfall in supply in many markets has led to double digit percentage increases in office fit-out costs over the past year in major global cities including Miami, Dublin and Bangalore London is now the second most expensive office fit-out market in the world, with Dublin 18th, Edinburgh and Glasgow 21st, Birmingham 22nd, and Manchester 25th. The year-on-year picture is mixed, as while Edinburgh and Glasgow saw costs rise by 12 percent, Manchester and Birmingham saw prices rise in line with inflation at 2 percent and 3 percent respectively, while in London costs fell by -1 percent, albeit they have increased significantly in recent years. (more…)
May 14, 2026
Firms are ignoring the needs of people in the adoption of AI, and it will cost them
by Neil Franklin • AI, News
Companies that fail to adopt a people-focused approach to artificial intelligence risk losing their best AI employees within the next two years, according to new research from Gartner. The analyst firm predicts that by 2027, half of enterprises without a “people-centric strategy” will see top talent leave the organisation. The warning reflects growing concern that many organisations are pursuing AI deployment primarily through cost reduction and automation rather than workforce development. Gartner argues that firms focused solely on replacing jobs with the technology are unlikely to achieve the long-term returns they expect. (more…)
May 13, 2026
The qualities that get managers promoted are the reasons people don’t like them
by Neil Franklin • Business, News
A new report from Hogan Assessments suggests that the qualities helping managers rise through organisations may be very different from those employees believe make effective leaders. The study, The Leadership Divide: Global Insights on Who Leads vs. Who Should [registration], found no overlap between the characteristics most commonly associated with senior executives and the qualities employees say they value in managers. Hogan analysed personality assessment data from more than 21,000 executives and surveyed 9,794 employees across 25 countries. The findings indicate that executives are often distinguished by confidence, competitiveness, visibility and self-promotion, while employees place greater importance on communication, integrity, accountability and decision-making. (more…)
May 13, 2026
People say they have a stronger sense of belonging at work, but daily experience still limited
by Neil Franklin • News, Wellbeing
A growing number of UK employees say they feel a stronger sense of belonging at work, although only a minority experience it consistently on a day-to-day basis, according to new research from Procter & Gamble UK. The survey of 2,000 UK adults found that 82 percent of workers now say they feel a sense of belonging in the workplace, which P&G claims is the highest level recorded in more than a decade. However, only 20 percent said they consistently experience the conditions that make them feel they truly belong at work. (more…)
May 12, 2026
Prime office costs continue to rise around the world, says Savills
by Neil Franklin • News, Property
Prime office costs in major global cities continued to rise in the first quarter of 2026, driven by strong demand for high quality workspace and limited availability, according to Savills. The real estate adviser says net effective occupier costs, including rents and fit-out costs, increased by 0.7 percent globally during the quarter. That brings the annual increase to 5 percent and the rise over the past two years to 9.1 percent. Savills tracks 47 cities worldwide and found that occupier costs increased in 23 of them during the first three months of the year. Costs rose by 1 percent across EMEA, 0.7 percent in North America and 0.4 percent in Asia Pacific. (more…)

















