Wellbeing and organisational agility will dominate workplace conversations in 2023

Wellbeing and organisational agility will dominate workplace conversations in 2023

Mental health and wellbeing will dominate conversations about the role of work in people's lives this yearMental health and wellbeing will dominate conversations about the role of work in people’s lives this year, due in part to the effects of the global pandemic, as well as social and economic instability around the world, according to the latest megatrends report from UKG. The report claims that many people are feeling overwhelmed in the face of negative news cycles headlining economic uncertainty, climate change, violence, and political unrest have contributed to a spike in mental wellbeing issues. More →

Rising costs will oblige more companies to offer flexible working

Rising costs will oblige more companies to offer flexible working

Two thirds of UK businesses believe offering flexible working to their employees is crucial if they are to successfully retain and attract talentTwo thirds of UK businesses believe offering flexible working to their employees is crucial if they are to successfully retain and attract talent, according to a new report. Businesses don’t believe they cannot compete on salary alone and are instead offering flexibility to stay competitive. Over half (52 percent) of businesses have increased salaries to attract talented workers, but say wages rises can’t continue at the rate they have been going. The second Future World of Work report from Sonovate is based on quantitative research from 4,000 people and 500 small and medium-sized business owners, as well as qualitative interviews with commentators from the future of work, employment and fintech sectors. More →

Glassdoor announces winners of best place to work awards

Glassdoor announces winners of best place to work awards

Glassdoor has announced the winners of its annual Employees’ Choice AwardGlassdoor has announced the winners of its annual Employees’ Choice Awards, honouring the Best Places to Work 2023 across the UK and four other countries. The Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Awards are based on the input of employees who voluntarily provide anonymous feedback by completing a company review about their job, work environment and employer over the past year. More →

Commercial property values and returns fell significantly in 2022

Commercial property values and returns fell significantly in 2022

London and UK commercial propertyUK commercial property capital values decreased significantly in 2022, and annual total returns were also down, according to the latest CBRE Monthly Index. Capital values decreased 3.0 percent across all UK commercial property in December 2022. Rental value growth for the month was 0.2 percent and total returns were -2.6 percent. For 2022 as a whole, capital values fell 13.3 percent, and annual total returns were -9.1 percent, according to the report. More →

Flexible working and work-life balance most important features of new job roles

Flexible working and work-life balance most important features of new job roles

A woman breathes in deeply and looks relaxed to illustrate the issue of work-life balance and the importance of flexible workingOne in three (33 percent) employees say the most important factor to them when contemplating a move to a new job, after pay, is work-life balance, according to a new poll of 13,000 UK based employees from Hays. The survey suggests that the extent to which employees are satisfied with their work-life balance has been improving over the last three years. More →

People prefer flexible to hybrid working according to new poll

People prefer flexible to hybrid working according to new poll

A new poll from MHR claims that people appear to prefer flexible to hybrid working. It suggests that a greater proportion of employees would prefer to work in the office with flexible hours (51 percent) than work from home with structured hours (41 percent)A new poll from MHR claims that people appear to prefer flexible to hybrid working. It suggests that a greater proportion of employees would prefer to work in the office with flexible hours (51 percent) than work from home with structured hours (41 percent). The survey [registration] of over 1,200 full time office workers across the UK and Ireland set out to find how their experience working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic compared to their usual work practices. More →

Employee mental health will improve next year, say firms

Employee mental health will improve next year, say firms

employee mental health and wellbeing Nearly three quarters of UK organisations expect employee mental health to improve in 2023 as they open up about mental wellbeing according to a new poll from Koa Health. The study, conducted in partnership with 3Gem Research and Insights, claims that half of employers say they plan to talk more about mental health in company communications as teams continue to struggle with the cost-of-living crisis and its impact on mental health. A further 44 percent say they will openly and visibly practise mental wellbeing habits in the workplace.   More →

Three year hike in the number of one-to-one and ad hoc virtual meetings

Three year hike in the number of one-to-one and ad hoc virtual meetings

Two people in an example of virtual meetingsA new study from Vyopta claims there has been a significant increase in the number of one-to-one virtual meetings and ad hoc collaboration on digital meeting platforms over the past three years. Its paper The Evolution of Hybrid Work: A Three-Year Analysis based on data from around 48 million meetings held in 2020, 2021, and 2022 measured engagement trends over time and studied how the workforce is adapting to remote-first and hybrid collaboration. More →

Humanscale charts a path to a sustainable future

Humanscale charts a path to a sustainable future

A Humanscale chair on a beachHumanscale is celebrating CSR success in the way it manufactures the elements used in its award-winning workplace solutions. In 2021, 26 products equating to 60 percent of the company’s sales were certified climate positive. This means they had a positive impact on climate, energy, and water, the first products in the world that are ‘beyond neutral’. More →

How different European countries tax working from home

How different European countries tax working from home

A man working from homeWhen it comes to the tax implications of working from home, Belgium seems to be the most attractive European country. Those regularly working from home in Belgium can claim over €1,700. No other of the eleven nations examined by The Mobile Bank N26 manages to match the Belgians in this regard. In addition to Germany’s neighbour, Spain, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Greece, Poland and France were also analysed. As the data suggests, regulations and tax relief opportunities differ between nations, sometimes significantly. More →

People want their offices to perform more like hotels

People want their offices to perform more like hotels

Soft seating from Connection furniture that could be set in offices or hotelsEmployees today want more ‘hotel-style’ amenities such as areas for socialising, state-of-the-art infrastructure, outdoor spaces, onsite cafes, air conditioning, and flexible work facilities to entice them back to offices, according to a new poll from MRI Software. The firm’s Workplace Report [registration] claims almost two-thirds (64 percent) of respondents say such hotel-style features impact their decision on whether to work for an organisation, including more than one in ten who see failure to provide the right amenities as a deal breaker. More →

Three quarters of flexible office operators eye expansion and landlords want a piece of the action

Three quarters of flexible office operators eye expansion and landlords want a piece of the action

Instant Group flexible officeAround three quarters of flexible office operators globally are looking to expand – primarily in city centres – while 64 percent of landlords want to deliver flexible office solutions, according to The Instant Group’s Future of Flex 2022 flexible office survey. The Instant Group’s annual flexible workspace survey, which is based on providers representing more than 3,700 locations across the globe, also delves into changing occupier motivations within the industry, and how both operators and landlords are reacting to these demands. More →