Prime office costs continue to rise around the world, says Savills

Prime office costs continue to rise around the world, says Savills

by • 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 availabilityPrime 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…)

The workplace continues to be a source of relationships, study claims

The workplace continues to be a source of relationships, study claims

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace design

A new study commissioned by the organisers of the ORGATEC office design trade fair suggests that the physical workplace continues to play a significant social roleA new study commissioned by the organisers of the ORGATEC office design trade fair suggests that the physical workplace continues to play a significant social role, with around one in three employees in Germany saying they have dated a colleague. The research, carried out by YouGov and based on a representative sample of more than 2,000 people, suggests that offices remain important settings for forming friendships, relationships and informal social connections despite the continued growth of hybrid and remote working. (more…)

Geopolitics reshapes CEO priorities as firms focus on profitability, AI and dealmaking

Geopolitics reshapes CEO priorities as firms focus on profitability, AI and dealmaking

by • AI, Business, News

Geopolitical instability has become the dominant concern for global business leaders, prompting a shift in corporate strategy towards profitability, resilience and targeted growth, according to the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey.Geopolitical instability has become the dominant concern for global business leaders, prompting a shift in corporate strategy towards profitability, resilience and targeted growth, according to the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey. The quarterly study, based on responses from 1,200 CEOs across 21 countries, suggests that executives are adapting to what they see as a prolonged period of structural uncertainty by tightening their focus on disciplined investment, artificial intelligence and strategic transactions. More than half of respondents, 56 percent, identified geopolitical risk as the most significant threat to their business over the next 12 months, representing a rise of 28 percentage points since September 2025. The findings indicate that geopolitical pressures are now shaping boardroom priorities more directly than in previous years. (more…)

Microsoft report claims AI agents will reshape organisations and redefine knowledge work

Microsoft report claims AI agents will reshape organisations and redefine knowledge work

by • AI, News, Workplace

Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index report suggests that organisations are entering a new phase in the evolution of knowledge work, in which artificial intelligence agents become embedded in everyday operations and employees take on supervisory roles over digital systemsMicrosoft’s latest Work Trend Index report suggests that organisations are entering a new phase in the evolution of knowledge work, in which artificial intelligence agents become embedded in everyday operations and employees take on supervisory roles over digital systems. The study, based on a survey of 31,000 workers across 31 countries alongside labour market data and productivity signals, suggests that this shift is already underway and could accelerate rapidly over the next few years. (more…)

Historic Whitehall office recognised for inclusive design

Historic Whitehall office recognised for inclusive design

by • Facilities management, News, Workplace design

22–26 Whitehall had been awarded Inclusive Environments Recognition by the Construction Industry Council, in acknowledgement of its approach to inclusive design in a historic settingA refurbished government office in Whitehall has received an industry award for accessibility, according to the Government Property Agency (GPA). The GPA said its hub at 22–26 Whitehall had been awarded Inclusive Environments Recognition by the Construction Industry Council, in acknowledgement of its approach to inclusive design in a historic setting. The building brings together the Grade I listed Ripley Building with the adjoining Kirkland Building and is now used as the London headquarters for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The site forms part of the government’s wider strategy to rationalise its estate and create shared workplaces for civil servants. (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…)

Three-quarters of people say they feel psychologically safe at work

Three-quarters of people say they feel psychologically safe at work

by • News, Wellbeing

Over three-quarters (77 percent) of frontline employees say they feel psychologically safe speaking up about problems or opportunities for improvementWorkers in the UK are more confident raising concerns at work than their leaders may realise, prompting calls for more businesses to keep pace and prioritise how psychologically safe people feel. Over three-quarters (77 percent) of frontline employees say they feel psychologically safe speaking up about problems or opportunities for improvement in their organisation, according to a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of SafetyCulture. Yet only 63 percent of senior management believe their workers feel that way – a gap that suggests many leaders may be underestimating their own culture. (more…)

Motivation shifts rather than declines during periods of uncertainty, according to new poll

Motivation shifts rather than declines during periods of uncertainty, according to new poll

by • News, Workplace

The results of a a new survey suggest that employee motivation does not collapse in uncertain conditions but instead changes shapeThe results of a a new survey suggest that employee motivation does not collapse in uncertain conditions but instead changes shape, with leadership behaviour emerging as the decisive factor. The findings, based on polling conducted by Wiley Workplace Intelligence, indicate that the most significant risk to engagement is not ambiguity itself but a perceived disconnect between leaders and their teams. The data suggests that employees continue to seek direction and purpose even when clarity is limited. Rather than becoming disengaged, many respondents reported adapting their focus, placing greater emphasis on trust, communication and visible leadership. (more…)

More than half of UK freelancers have considered quitting self-employment in past year

More than half of UK freelancers have considered quitting self-employment in past year

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

More than half of UK freelancers and small business owners have considered giving up self-employment over the past year, according to new researchMore than half of UK freelancers and small business owners have considered giving up self-employment over the past year, according to new research from The Accountancy Partnership. The survey of 1,060 self-employed professionals found that 50.7 percent have thought about returning to traditional employment in the past 12 months. Of these, 16.4 percent said they had seriously considered leaving self-employment altogether, while 34.3 percent said the idea had crossed their minds briefly. (more…)

Uncontrolled use of AI in organisations linked to rising risk and slower returns

Uncontrolled use of AI in organisations linked to rising risk and slower returns

by • AI, News

New polling from Lenovo suggests that the widespread, and often unregulated, use of artificial intelligence in organisations is creating operational risks, increasing costs and slowing the return on investment from AI initiatives. The company’s latest Work Reborn Report, based on a survey of 6,000 employees worldwide, claims that more than 70 percent of employees now use AI tools on a weekly basis. Up to a third of this activity is taking place without formal oversight from IT departments, contributing to the growth of so-called shadow AI. (more…)

AI has yet to have any significant impact on UK employment levels

AI has yet to have any significant impact on UK employment levels

by • AI, News

A new report suggests that fears of AI triggering widespread job losses in the UK have yet to be borne out by evidenceA new report suggests that fears of artificial intelligence triggering widespread job losses in the UK have yet to be borne out by evidence, with little indication so far of major disruption to employment. The study, published by think tank The Centre for British Progress, examines labour market data since the rapid emergence of generative AI tools and finds no clear signs that the technology has led to large-scale displacement of workers. Despite frequent predictions that AI could significantly reshape or reduce the workforce in the near term, the report concludes that such effects are not yet visible in aggregate employment trends. (more…)

AI displays bias when judging people, and that matters for some of its most common uses

AI displays bias when judging people, and that matters for some of its most common uses

by • AI, News

AI systems don’t just process information; they systematically ‘judge’ people in ways that resemble human trust, but with important differencesAI systems don’t just process information; they systematically ‘judge’ people in ways that resemble human trust, but with important differences, according to a new study by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU). The results have implications for some of the most common ways AI is already being used as a decision-maker and opinion-former, especially in recruitment and law. According to the new study in Proceedings of the Royal Society A by Prof. Yaniv Dover and Valeria Lerman of the Hebrew University Business School, the reason is both reassuring and deeply unsettling. (more…)

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