Columnists
May 31, 2017
IBM’s retreat from flexible working. The world responds 0
by Mark Eltringham • Comment, Flexible working
In February 2013, Yahoo set off a mighty global stink when it sent a memo telling staff to forget about working from home, Starbucks, wherever and return to its corporate embrace. The intention of recently installed CEO Marissa Mayer was to increase collaboration and productivity by getting everybody in the same space. There is some […]
May 26, 2017
Workplace Matters Podcast on productivity, professionalism and activity based working with Chris Moriarty 0
by Ian Ellison • Comment, Facilities management, Podcasts, Premium Content, Technology, Workplace design
This week sees the return of the Workplace Matters podcast from 3edges, and season 2 kicks off with a cracker. I am in conversation with the inimitable raconteur Chris Moriarty, Managing Director UK & Ireland at Leesman, and formerly of the British Institute of Facilities Management. Expect soap box moments galore as Chris and Ian discuss […]
May 26, 2017
An overdue attempt to connect smart buildings with smart people 0
by Xenia Kingsley • Comment, Property, Technology
As first events go, the inaugural outing for the Smart Buildings series of conferences succeeded in delivering a full day of insightful presentations and debates, with a highly engaged audience of industry experts. A theme to emerge early on – in the opening remarks by Worktech Academy’s Jeremy Myerson in fact, was that the concept of ‘smart […]
May 18, 2017
Reflection on facilities management and the people I’ve met along the way 0
by Paul Carder • Comment, Facilities management
I’m in reflective mood. Yesterday was #WorldFMDay, I thought I should reflect on my affection for, and criticism of, Facilities Management (or Facility Management). It is merely one person’s perspective. But it may provide a viewpoint, perhaps useful (or not) for the younger professionals joining our sector. There are some great, varied, and sometimes well-paid […]
May 18, 2017
A mixed forecast for the accountancy profession: Brexit highs and digital lows 0
by Mike James • Comment, Flexible working, Technology
The accountancy profession is facing an uncertain future in the traditional sense. The question of automation is on everyone’s minds, as are the complexities of Brexit. On the one hand, news from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) suggests accountants will be in high demand during the Brexit process, on the other, gloomy reports […]
May 17, 2017
Yes, facilities management press, your bum does look big in that 0
by Simon Heath • Comment, Facilities management
I suspect we’ve all got one of those friends. Needy. Constantly seeking validation. Of a new partner. Of a new outfit. Of their choices for all aspects of their life. If the industry media and chatterati are to be believed, facilities management is becoming just such a friend. Handwringing articles asking how FM can best […]
May 17, 2017
A nuanced approach to the design of the coworking office 0
by Ajay Chopra • Comment, Flexible working, Workplace design
The coworking segment of the real estate business is poised for exponential growth in the coming years, as the number of market players around the world today continues to increase. With humble beginnings in an economic recession, the shared workspace trend has captivated both the start-up entrepreneur and the remote corporate worker, alike. This success […]
May 10, 2017
The new normal arrives for the commercial property sector 0
by Gary Chandler • Comment, Facilities management, Property, Workplace design
Traditionally, the two principle vectors for change in the commercial property market have been lease lengths and space standards. Both have shrunk markedly over recent years, subject to the miniaturising effects of technological and cultural change. Even so, the effects of this contraction have taken place within an existing paradigm so have been easily understood, […]
May 3, 2017
Wiring your brain to the Internet? What could possibly go wrong? 0
by Christopher Markou • Comment, Technology, Wellbeing
Neuralink – which is “developing ultra high bandwidth brain-machine interfaces to connect humans and computers” – is probably a bad idea. If you understand the science behind it, and that’s what you wanted to hear, you can stop reading. But this is an absurdly simple narrative to spin about Neuralink and an unhelpful attitude to […]
May 1, 2017
Fresh concerns raised about council investments in commercial property market 0
by Mark Eltringham • Comment, Property, Public Sector
As we reported last month, the level of investment in commercial property undertaken by UK local authorities is raising serious concerns within both central government and the real estate sector. Now, a fresh warning has been issued by the former business secretary Sir Vince Cable that councils face potential bankruptcy if the property bubble bursts. […]
April 12, 2017
Research shows how the gender pay gap can be directly related to motherhood 0
by Sara Bean • Comment, Flexible working, News, Workplace
A new piece of academic research provides more evidence that the underlying reason for the gender pay gap is the discrepancy between the way women with children are treated compared to men, and other women without children. According to new research from Université Paris-Saclay, mothers are paid 3 percent less for every child they have compared […]
June 1, 2017
Settings and serendipity define workplace design at Clerkenwell Design Week 0
by Paul Goodchild • Comment, Workplace design
Because a vast show like Clerkenwell Design Week is about as easy to digest as a whale omelette, visitors often find themselves discussing with other people what is worth seeing and, perhaps more importantly, what they think its themes are. At this year’s show, the fine weather meant it was possible for people to occupy […]