The best smart cities focus on people rather than technology

The best smart cities focus on people rather than technology

by • Cities, Features, Technology, Wellbeing

The best smart cities such as Buenos Aires focus on peopleCities are fast becoming “smart”, and the impact on people’s lives can be immense. Singapore’s smart traffic cameras restrict traffic depending on volume, and ease the commute of thousands of passengers every day. In Kaunas, Lithuania, the cost of parking is automatically deducted from the bank accounts of drivers when they park their cars. In many cities, the timing of public buses is announced at each stop with almost perfect accuracy. And free WiFi is now accessible across entire cities, including Buenos Aires, Argentina (pictured) and Ramallah, Palestine. More →

Four-fifths of British employees continue to work when sick

by • News, Wellbeing

A new study conducted by Love Energy Savings claims that more than 80 percent of British employees still continue to work when they are ill or sick. Love Energy Savings investigated which groups were most likely to continue to work when ill, with less than one-fifth of British workers (17 percent) admitting to taking sick days when they’re ill. And there is a widening margin when it comes to age groups.

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Corporate sanctioned mindfulness is no fix for stress

Corporate sanctioned mindfulness is no fix for stress

by • News, Wellbeing

Corporate sanctioned mindfulness is often nothing but a sticking plaster for stressThe use of mindfulness techniques in the corporate world could actually do more harm than good to employees, having little more than a ‘band aid’ or ‘quick fix’ effect, according to new research from Durham University Business School. More →

Freelancers say work makes them lonely, anxious and depressed 

Freelancers say work makes them lonely, anxious and depressed 

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

freelancers often feel lonelyAround two thirds (64 percent) of freelancers say they regularly feel lonely due to their work, with a further 59 percent saying they suffer from work-related anxiety, according the new research from office stationery and furniture suppliers, Viking. The survey also suggests that 60 percent say their quality of sleep is negatively affected by work, whilst over half (54 percent) read work emails on holiday. More →

The workplace of the future and its tech must work for the good of society

The workplace of the future and its tech must work for the good of society

by • AI, News, Technology, Wellbeing

Workplace values matter more than career progression to young dads

Workplace values matter more than career progression to young dads

by • Comment, Flexible working, Wellbeing

With recent research showing that over half of young dads (58 percent) are more actively involved in day to day parenting than ever before, it is increasingly important that employers put health and wellbeing and other workplace values at the heart of their offer to employees. In particular, they should be able to offer flexible working options in order to retain their best staff. Our research looking at the Millennial Dad at Work also highlighted starkly that some business sectors are more accommodating than others when it comes to flexible working. Perhaps surprisingly, the construction industry came out of the research very well with 48 percent requesting a change in working hours since becoming a father of which 78 percent of those were successful. The retail sector and the pharmaceutical industry also did well. More →

Startup yulife is using gamification to boost workplace morale

Startup yulife is using gamification to boost workplace morale

by • Company news, Promotion, Wellbeing

Yulife, a Shoreditch-based startup is using its innovative app to reward staff members for being healthy. The company offers life insurance plans for staff members which are backed by heavyweight insurer AIG, but staff also get the opportunity to earn rewards for every mile they walk, meditating and keep healthy. The company is the brainchild of former Vitality executive Sammy Rubin who founded yulife with a passion for bringing health and wellbeing to the UK insurance market. The insuretech company has hired renowned health expert Dr Rangan Chatterjee as the Chief of Wellbeing Officer and is endorsed by Deliciously Ella. More →

The key to wellbeing at work is focusing on the individual

The key to wellbeing at work is focusing on the individual

by • Comment, Wellbeing, Workplace design

An abstract take on wellbeing at workIt gets more apparent as each day passes that the layout of an office can have a profound impact on wellbeing at work. While this knowledge is more widespread than it once was, it’s still common to see companies addressing the issue with simple box-ticking exercises rather than taking into consideration the actual wants and needs of employees.

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Majority of American workers are unhappy in their jobs

Majority of American workers are unhappy in their jobs

by • News, Wellbeing

American workers are unhappyAlthough more people are in work in the US than at any time in the past 50 years, only 40 percent of American workers say that they work in good jobs, according to a new study (registration) from the Lumina Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Omidyar Network, and Gallup.  The report claims that 44 percent of workers surveyed said they had “mediocre” jobs while 16 percent said they were in “bad” jobs. More →

Over 50s account for total five year increase in night working

Over 50s account for total five year increase in night working

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

over 50s dominate increase in night workforceThe number of people regularly working night shifts is at its highest level since the Office for National Statistics began collecting records in their current form, according to a new analysis from the TUC. The analysis of official data shows that 3.25 million people (more than 1 in 9 workers) work in Britain’s night-time economy – 100,000 more than five years ago. While the number of over 50s doing night work has accelerated in recent years, fewer young workers are doing night shifts. More →

Asking about mental health is not the answer, listening is

Asking about mental health is not the answer, listening is

by • Comment, Wellbeing

listening to mental healthSo, how are you? As the daughter of a depressive father and the sister of a brother who suffers with similar mental health challenges, I have seen first hand how powerfully destructive a negative state of mind can be to the individuals who suffer as well as those around them.

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Mental health at work addressed by new consortium of firms

Mental health at work addressed by new consortium of firms

by • Legal news, News, Wellbeing

Mental health at workLloyds Banking Group, Unilever the CBI, Bupa and the John Lewis Partnership are among the major firms and other organisations that have signed up to an agreement that aims to transform the approach to mental health in the workplace. The Mental Health at Work Commitment is a promise to adopt six standards which have been developed with mental health charities, large employers and trade organisations. More →

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