People want the flexibility of hybrid work, but don’t want to go fully remote

People want the flexibility of hybrid work, but don’t want to go fully remote

hybrid work has become the preferred working model worldwide, with a significant impact on productivity, employee satisfaction, and workplace connectivityA new survey conducted by Zoom in collaboration with Reworked INSIGHTS claims that hybrid work has become the preferred working model worldwide, with a significant impact on productivity, employee satisfaction, and workplace connectivity. The survey, titled “Navigating the Future of Work: Global Perspectives on Hybrid Models and Technology [registration] sets out to explore the evolving nature of work, focusing on global trends in workplace flexibility, employee preferences, and the growing role of generative AI. More →

Working from home prevalent across Northern Europe, but has no effect on productivity

Working from home prevalent across Northern Europe, but has no effect on productivity

 

Working from home has become a permanent feature of the European workforce, with notable variations across different regions and citiesA new research briefing from Oxford Economics claims to highlight the sustained prevalence of working from home in Europe, particularly in northern cities, and examines its impact on office real estate markets. According to the briefing, which analyses data through 2023, working from home has become a permanent feature of the European workforce, with notable variations across different regions and cities. More →

Right to disconnect law comes into force in Australia

Right to disconnect law comes into force in Australia

 

Australia has introduced a "right to disconnect" rule, offering what is claimed to be ‘significant relief’ to employees who feel pressured to respond to work-related calls or messages outside of their official working hoursAustralia has introduced a so-called right to disconnect rule, offering what is claimed to be ‘significant relief’ to employees who feel pressured to respond to work-related calls or messages outside of their official working hours. The new legislation allows employees to ignore communications after hours without fearing repercussions from their employers. More →

The best leaders invite people to challenge them … and don’t punish them when they do

The best leaders invite people to challenge them … and don’t punish them when they do

Leaders should foster a culture of positive, constructive challenge, which can help mitigate risks and improve decision makingLeaders should foster a culture of positive, constructive challenge, which can help mitigate risks and improve decision making, according to experts at Imperial College Business School. In a new white paper, researchers from Imperial’s Centre for Responsible Leadership analysed the strategies that leaders can implement to successfully elicit challenge from their teams. The paper contains key lessons and evidence-based recommendations for leaders to encourage challenge, that can be applied to a wide range of organisations. More →

UK commercial property market shows signs of recovery, but not for offices

UK commercial property market shows signs of recovery, but not for offices

The United Kingdom's commercial property market is showing signs of a quicker recovery than the rest of Europe, following a challenging two-year period marked by high interest rates and the ongoing re-evaluation of the role officesThe United Kingdom’s commercial property market is showing signs of a quicker recovery than the rest of Europe, following a challenging two-year period marked by high interest rates and the ongoing re-evaluation of the role offices. According to the Green Street Index, the office market continues to be the most sluggish sector. The latest data suggests that both deal volumes and property values in the UK have seen an increase in the first half of 2024. This contrasts with Germany and France, where dealmaking has remained slow and price gains have been more modest. More →

Government hub named one of the world’s leading workplaces

Government hub named one of the world’s leading workplaces

 

This unprepossessing building in Peterborough has been named as one of the world's leading workplaces by the Leesman IndexThis unprepossessing building in Peterborough has been named as one of the world’s leading workplaces by Leesman. The Government Property Agency (GPA) office hub building is the second building belonging to the GPA that has achieved Leesman+ certification – global recognition of exceptional workplace experiences which only six public sector offices worldwide have ever attained. More →

People think GenAI is perfectly fine in their own work. For others, not so much

People think GenAI is perfectly fine in their own work. For others, not so much

 

Interestingly, it seems acceptable to use GenAI for ourselves but less so for othersPeople are commonly blind to how much influence Generative AI (GenAI) has over their work, when they choose to enlist the support of technologies such as Chat GPT to complete professional or educational tasks, new research finds. The study, carried out by associate professors Dr Mirjam Tuk and Dr Anne Kathrin Klesse alongside PhD candidate Begum Celiktutan at Rotterdam School of Management Erasmus University, claims to reveal a significant discrepancy between what people consider to be an acceptable level of AI use in professional tasks, and how much impact the technology actually has on their work. More →

Most people support shift to a four day week

Most people support shift to a four day week

A new poll claims that a significant majority of voters who supported the new Labour government are in favour of transitioning the UK to a four day weekA new poll claims that a significant majority of voters who supported the new Labour government are in favour of transitioning the UK to a shorter working week. According to data collected by Survation and commissioned by The Autonomy Institute, 72 percent of Labour voters back the idea of a four-day work week. The survey, which included responses from 2,048 adults, specifically asked whether participants would support a government initiative to move towards a shorter working week, with no loss of pay, by the year 2030. More →

European banks are over-valuing commercial property, ECB report suggests

European banks are over-valuing commercial property, ECB report suggests

 

An analysis by the European Central Bank (ECB) has raised concerns that several of the Euro zone's leading banks may be inflating the value of commercial propertyAn analysis by the European Central Bank (ECB) has raised concerns that several of the Euro zone’s leading banks may be inflating the value of commercial property, potentially obscuring the true state of their loan portfolios in a sector that is facing significant challenges. The analysis suggests that some banks are failing to properly account for the steep downturn in the commercial property market, which has been severely impacted by higher borrowing costs and weakened demand as businesses adjust to the post-pandemic economic landscape. More →

Technology failures are a major headache for small businesses

Technology failures are a major headache for small businesses

A new poll  from TalkTalk Business claims to identify the significant impact technology failures have on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK.A new poll  from TalkTalk Business claims to identify the significant impact technology failures have on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK. According to the survey, nearly one-quarter (23 percent) of these businesses have experienced system glitches within the past year. These technical issues are proving costly for many SMEs, with 17 percent reporting that such problems have cost their business between £500 and £999 over the last 12 months. More alarmingly, 12 percent of SMEs have faced losses ranging from £2,000 to £3,999, while 7 percent have incurred staggering costs between £8,000 and £9,999 due to technology-related failures. More →

Hybrid workers are more likely than colleagues to report poor mental health

Hybrid workers are more likely than colleagues to report poor mental health

Hybrid workers are the group most likely to say that work has a negative toll on their mental health, according to a new surveyHybrid workers are the group most likely to say that work has a negative toll on their mental health, according to a new survey from Pluxee UK. Two-fifths (42 percent) of hybrid workers reported that work negatively affects their mental wellbeing, compared to 32 percent of fully remote and 30 percent of fully office-based employees. The report claims thatits  findings highlight that while hybrid working offers flexibility, it requires thoughtful support to ensure employee wellbeing and work-life balance. More →

Firms are betting big on the impact of AI on their business

Firms are betting big on the impact of AI on their business

 

Big AI bets are being made globally with nearly one in 10 businesses spending over $25m this year on AI initiativesA new report published by consulting firm Searce claims that organisations across the UK and US are making significant investments in artificial intelligence this year with nearly one in 10 decision-makers in both the UK (8 percent) and US (7 percent) planning to spend over $25 million. The 2024 State of AI report [registration] is based on a poll of 300 C-Suite and senior technology executives – including Chief AI Officers, Chief Data & Analytics Officers, Chief Transformation Officers, and Chief Digital Officers – at organisations with at least $500 million in revenue. The research examines some of the biggest trends, successes, and challenges facing businesses in their artificial intelligence decision-making, strategy, and execution. More →