June 28, 2024
After soon-to-be 25 years of serving as Chief Executive for the British Council for Offices, Richard Kauntze will be stepping down in summer 2025. His successor will be appointed by the 
June 26, 2024
Younger people put far less emphasis on flexible working than older colleagues
Demand for flexible working options surged during the pandemic but has since become less important to people, according to ADP Research Institute’s People at Work 2024: A Global Workforce View [registration]. Overall, the survey of nearly 35,000 people in 18 countries suggests flexible working hours are important to 25 percent of workers, while 15 percent value flexible locations. Workers of all ages and in all regions rank flexibility of location below salary, job security, work enjoyment and career progression. In Europe, only 14 percent of respondents favour flexible location, a slightly smaller share than in Asia Pacific (15 percent), Latin America (15 percent), and North America (17 percent). (more…)
June 26, 2024
People are increasingly comfortable with – and scared of – AI
The sentiments of employees around the world about AI and GenAI are evolving significantly, but cautious optimism endures, with 42 percent reporting confidence about the technologies’ impact on their work, compared to 26 percent at around this time last year. However, anxiety about the technologies is also on the rise, by 5 percentage points, and 49 percent of regular users believe their job may disappear in the next ten years, a view shared by only 24 percent of workers who do not use them. (more…)
June 25, 2024
Are these the top ten emerging technologies for 2024?
The World Economic Forum has published its annual Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report featuring technologies with the greatest potential to make a positive impact in the world in the next three to five years. Among the technologies mentioned in the report are AI (obv), immersive building tech, intelligent materials and microbes that can sequester carbon. (more…)
June 25, 2024
Office market upheaval means uncertain times for landlords
The UK office market is facing a period of significant upheaval, according to a new survey commissioned by workspace provider infinitSpace. The research paints what it says is a concerning picture for landlords, with a sizeable portion battling financial strain and even potential closure. Over 14 percent of the 250 surveyed landlords fear their office buildings could shut down within the next five years due to affordability concerns. (more…)
June 25, 2024
People are pushing back against so-called return to office mandates
A poll by Skillshub suggests there is a potential clash between firms issuing so-called return to office mandates and people unwilling to give up the flexibility and wellbeing benefits they say they have gained through remote and hybrid work. The survey claims that a significant proportion of UK employees (nearly half – 42.6 percent) are prepared to consider quitting their jobs if forced back to full-time office work. This sentiment extends even to hybrid models with a majority office presence (3+ days a week) – almost a fifth (18 percent) would consider leaving, with a significant number (10.1 percent) strongly considering it. (more…)
June 25, 2024
Bleep off. Workplace devices interrupt people every fifteen minutes
A new poll from Unily, claims to highlight the negative impact digital notifications have on wellbeing and productivity. The majority of employees and managers surveyed agree that companies are not effectively addressing the issue of digital noise – the way apps and devices interrupt people constantly. According to the Digital Noise Impact Report [registration], nearly half of all employees are distracted at least once every 30 minutes, and almost a third report being distracted at least once every 15 minutes by a workplace notification. That means employees working 8-hour days could be experiencing over 160 distractions from their workplace digital tools each week. (more…)
June 25, 2024
Materialistic people are less bothered about fairness in the workplace
Treating people with fairness at work will ensure they flourish, thus boosting the team’s performance, according to new research by emlyon business school. However, this is not the case with team members who are money-motivated, and fair treatment actually doesn’t have any positive impact on their performance, the researchers say. These findings come from research by Thierry Nadisic, Professor of Organisational Behaviour at emlyon business school, France, alongside his colleagues, Professor Russell Cropanzano from the University of Colorado, Professor Jessica F. Kirk from the University of Memphis, and Rébecca Shankland from Grenoble Ecole de Management, France. (more…)
June 23, 2024
North American office design lagging behind new working cultures
A report from design firm Hassell and workplace analytics business Density paints what it claims is a concerning picture of North American tech offices. It says that tech firms, once considered pioneers in innovative office design, are lagging behind the evolving work landscape. The report [registration] analysed over 1.4 million square feet of workspace usage between May 2023 and May 2024, revealed what it says is a troubling trend: underutilisation. On average, these tech offices only reached a peak occupancy of 34 percent, meaning a significant portion of the space – potentially costing companies up to $40 million annually in wasted rent – sits empty. (more…)
June 21, 2024
AI could save the public sector millions of hours of time each week, claims report
A new report commissioned by Microsoft claims that the scale of administration required of the UK’s public sector is drawing front line workers away from delivering frontline services, and impacting the motivation, engagement and even mental health of large proportions of the public workforce. The research, developed by Dr Chris Brauer, Director of Innovation at Goldsmiths University and Symmetry features in a new report from Microsoft, ‘Harnessing the Power of AI for the Public Sector‘ and argues AI could save more than four hours per week on administrative tasks per staff member across all public sectors. (more…)
June 21, 2024
Europe lacks skills in key technologies such as AI, quantum and space
Critical gaps have formed across Europe’s technology sector, with skills, investment and innovation being stunted in vital areas such as AI, quantum computing and space technology, according to a report from DIGITALEUROPE. The study titled ‘The EU’s Critical Gap: Rethinking Economic Security to Put Europe Back on the Map,’ claims that Europe is significantly lagging in key technologies. Among 8 technologies that were analysed, Europe was shown to be lagging behind in 7, only leading in advanced connectivity, with major investments and profits in this sector are being led primarily by the US. (more…)
June 20, 2024
Two thirds of remote workers suffer from something called productivity anxiety
A new poll from Workhuman claims that while 61 percent of UK employees report higher productivity when working remotely two thirds of fully remote employees say they suffer from what the report refers to as ‘productivity anxiety’. Of those workers, one in four says they battle feelings of inadequacy or pressure to perform constantly or frequently. The survey suggests that fully in-office workers report the least amount of productivity anxiety, as well as higher levels of motivation than remote workers. Workers who are fully remote are also 69 percent more likely to feel bored while working compared to fully in-office workers. Also of note, hybrid workers report 31 percent less burn out than fully in office ones. (more…)
