May 29, 2024
A new survey claims that over two-thirds (69 percent) of people in the UK believe women face discrimination at work when going through menopause. According to the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, almost 8 out of 10 menopausal people are in work. Forth, which provides hormone tests for women surveyed over 2,000 people to reveal attitudes towards discrimination against women with menopause in the workplace. More →
May 16, 2024
Recent advancements in workplace inclusivity, focused on flexible working arrangements, parental leave, neurodiversity, and gender equality, have set the stage for the next significant corporate challenge: improving attitudes towards women’s health in the workplace. Human Resources leaders are pivotal in driving this necessary cultural shift. Consider the fact that about three-quarters of people, regardless of gender, believe menopause could impact career progression into senior roles. And that almost a quarter of women in tech experiencing menopausal symptoms have delayed or cancelled promotion plans. Clearly there’s some work to do here. More →
April 29, 2024
The new flexible working rules which came into force this month have been touted as a win – normalising and bringing clarity to the world of flexible work. However, in reality, they will do the very opposite. Under the new rules, workers now have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment. However, employers can take up to 2 whole months to respond to requests, and they do not have to be clear about their stance on flexible work beforehand. This is a huge oversight. Many workers rely on flexible working, and therefore need to know if arrangements are possible before they start new roles. Employers must be clear about their approach to flexible working from the outset, if we want to normalise flexibility in a way that allows both businesses and workers to benefit. More →
April 24, 2024
In an era where working from home has become the new norm, our eyes are more essential than ever for navigating the digital landscape that defines our daily lives. The rise of remote work has been rapid, with a significant portion of the American workforce transitioning to home-based employment post-pandemic. According to a recent survey, approximately 10 percent of the British workforce reported working remotely full-time, and 29 percent were working remotely part-time. However, there is a trend towards returning to the workplace, and least in part, with several businesses mandating a return to the office. More →
April 9, 2024
Women, on average, outlive men but, as reported by the World Economic Forum (WEF, 2024), spend approximately 25 percent of their lives in poor health. According to the WEF, addressing the disparities in women’s health could dramatically reduce this statistic, enhancing the lives of billions globally. Notably, strategic improvements in women’s healthcare could add an average of seven days of healthy living per year for each woman, cumulatively offering more than 500 additional healthy days over a lifetime. This progression not only promises to elevate the quality of life for women but also holds the potential to boost the global economy by at least $1 trillion annually by 2040. More →
March 25, 2024
The level of engagement within a company’s workforce significantly impacts clients satisfaction and its bottom line. Recent research by Gallup shows that teams with high levels of engagement enjoy a 10 percent uplift in client loyalty and a 23 percent increase in profitability compared to low-engagement teams. Empowering colleagues with learning and development programmes can dramatically improve their engagement with a business. Supporting them in this way is crucial if you want them to deliver excellence. When people are encouraged to own their careers, they care more about the outcomes of their work, which translates into exceptional productivity and happy clients. More →
March 24, 2024
We launched IN Magazine officially on the 4th of March 2020. So, this month marks some sort of anniversary. You could argue that this was the worst day in the history of mankind to launch a new magazine about people, work and workplaces and you’d probably be right. People were already not shaking hands. They had begun deserting public transport and planning for less contact with each other. Lockdown was only a couple of weeks away. More →
March 21, 2024
Amid a year of elections and leadership battles and following the airing of the 18th series of BBC’s The Apprentice, you may be forgiven for thinking that arrogance or self-promotion is a pathway to success in business. But new research shows that the opposite is actually true. A study, led by academics at the University of Sussex Business School, has challenged the conventional narrative of leadership and advises those seeking to reach the top to stay humble. More →
March 21, 2024
Fitwel, the building health certification system, has announced the winners of the 2024 Best in Building Health Awards. The awards are designed to honour the most innovative real estate companies and individuals ‘setting the standard for health and wellbeing in the built environment across the globe, leveraging the trusted Fitwel Standard to enhance quality of life and drive value through design and operational excellence’. This year’s winners include projects from Canada, Spain, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, and the United States. More →
March 6, 2024
The widespread adoption of hybrid working has opened the door for women to apply for senior positions within their companies, according to a new report released ahead of International Women’s Day. IWG’s 2024 report Advancing Equality: Women in the Hybrid Workplace, based on research among more than 1,000 female hybrid workers, found that flexible working had allowed over half (53 percent) to pursue promotions or apply for more senior roles – which, in an encouraging move for advancing equality, rises to more than three in five (61 percent) of women from minority backgrounds. For almost three quarters (73 percent) of women in minority groups, flexible working has opened up new opportunities that they would not have had otherwise. More →
March 1, 2024
The largest exhibition platform dedicated to the furniture manufacturing industry will return to the stage revamped and further expanded during the second phase of the 53rd CIFF Guangzhou, from 28 to 31 March 2024, in conjunction with Office Furniture and Commercial Spaces. CIFM/interzum guangzhou 2024 aims to create a high-level event focusing on the supply chain, showcasing cutting-edge solutions in the production of machinery, materials, and components for the furniture industry, and making a valuable contribution to the development of industry trends. More →
May 28, 2024
‘The Big Stay’ – it’s time to invest in employees, not to cut costs
by Roger Philby • Comment, Workplace