Search Results for: home working

A new generation of workplace apps is transforming people’s experience of work

A new generation of workplace apps is transforming people’s experience of work

These days, workplace apps promise a much more sophisticated experience, which can be accessed in the palm of your handDisseminating information about a building to the people who occupy it has come a long way from a basic, intranet desktop interface with warnings about wet floors or notices about charity fundraising. These days, workplace apps promise a much more sophisticated experience, which can be accessed in the palm of your hand. Gartner has a useful definition of workplace apps’ capabilities, stating, “They are used to explore and reserve workspaces, navigate the workplace, find colleagues, plan the best days to attend the workplace, access services and ensure that employees could feel safe in a future post pandemic workplace.” More →

Britain is no longer a nation of shopkeepers, but it is divided by the work we do

Britain is no longer a nation of shopkeepers, but it is divided by the work we do

An analysis of workforce data suggests that the work people do in different parts of the UK varies enormously, especially compared to LondonFollowing last week’s news that the fastest growing job category in the US isn’t necessarily the one you’d expect, a new report from HR software provider Ciphr, based on ONS data, claims to identify which jobs are the most disproportionately common in each part of the UK. The report analyses the latest regional employee estimates for over 370 occupations to find out which work roles (with at least 5,000 full-time employees) appear to be more concentrated, or over-represented, in some places more than others. More →

What happens to work when the machine stops?

What happens to work when the machine stops?

Newton at work

In 1909, E M Forster – not exactly known for a body of work replete with dystopian fiction – published a novella called The Machine Stops. You can read it here but the story describes a future in which people live below ground, in isolation but with all their needs met by an omnipresent Machine (you can see where this is going). More →

Forget Cannes. Commercial property sector hits the North to great effect

Forget Cannes. Commercial property sector hits the North to great effect

Away from London and Cannes, the commercial property sector is holding meaningful forward looking conversationsAn hour or two on the train from that part of the UK that gets talked about most and much better optics for local authorities to chase private investment than the South of France, little wonder the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UK REiiF) proved so popular this year. Over 13,000 attendees descended on Leeds for three days in May this year, a figure all the more remarkable when considering the event only started in 2022 with nearly 4000 attendees, which it nearly doubled the following year. Back to 2024 then and housing was a strong focus but that’s not to say some interesting stories from the commercial property sector didn’t also arise. More →

A brief history of the future of work

A brief history of the future of work

The future of work has always existed but never arrives. It is best seen as a way of thinking about current and emerging issues The past few years and our current predicaments should serves as a reminder of that tragic, unchangeable feature of the human condition, best expressed by Kierkegaard, that we are doomed to live our lives forwards but only understand them backwards. Retrospect is particularly important when we look back on sudden, large changes that knock us off our normal path. It’s important to remember this as we continue to grapple with the nature of the present and future of work in the wake of the pandemic. More →

Two-fifths of people have their time at work strictly monitored

Two-fifths of people have their time at work strictly monitored

A controlling and inflexible leadership style is making UK employees feel powerless and devalued, according to a poll. The findings suggest that 41 per cent of U.K. employees have their working time strictly monitored with 39 per cent admitting that leaders are always watching whether they’re on task during work hours. Around 53 per cent say they are given freedom in how they accomplish their work, and when workplace flexibility is provided, it’s all too often given to a limited number of job roles or ‘favourite employees’. More →

Remote work overseas could lead to double tax for firms, employees and digital nomads

Remote work overseas could lead to double tax for firms, employees and digital nomads

The rise of remote work, fuelled by the pandemic, may serve up a hidden danger for employees. Accountants warn that employees who relocate abroad while working for a UK-based company could end up paying income tax in both countries, on top of social security contributions in their host nation. More →

People work through pain because they can’t afford the time off

People work through pain because they can’t afford the time off

A huge number of people are working through pain, with a quarter reported to be taking painkillers due to a work-related injury, a new poll suggests. The survey of 2000 British workers carried out by National Accident Helpline claims that a third of people are regularly working through pain as they cannot afford time off. More →

Bringing workplaces back to their prime requires a holistic approach

Bringing workplaces back to their prime requires a holistic approach

Enticing employees back to physical workplaces has proved challenging, but there are solutions writes Steve Elliott of BW Workplace Experts The pandemic radically changed the way we work and kick-started the proliferation of the hybrid model and widespread remote work. Now the picture has shifted once more, with headlines pointing to increasing return to the office policies introduced by organisations, with greater productivity and collaboration among their top reasons for doing so. Dubbed the year of the ‘Great Office Return’ by Virgin Media 02 Business Movers Index, 2023 saw four in ten companies mandating a return to the five-day office week and 92 percent enforcing some level of in-office requirement. However, enticing employees back to physical workplaces has proven challenging. According to CBRE, almost half of companies report their office attendance at 40 percent or under. More →

Government announces new digital hub for Manchester

Government announces new digital hub for Manchester

Manchester is poised to become a major player in the digital government landscape following a significant land deal announced this week. The Government Property Agency (GPA) has exchanged contracts with Manchester City Council (MCC) to acquire five acres of the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats, paving the way for the construction of the Manchester Digital Campus. More →

Inclusivity, sustainability and user-centric design dominate BCO South West Regional Awards

Inclusivity, sustainability and user-centric design dominate BCO South West Regional Awards

What are claimed to be the South West of England’s and South Wales’s most outstanding workplaces have been announced, with British Council for Offices Awards going to six office buildings across the region. Held at The Coal Exchange Hotel, the BCO’s annual South of England and South Wales Awards Dinner celebrated the high-calibre of the region’s offices in terms of design, fit-out operation and sustainability. More →

This new mobile router might be your answer to work on the go

This new mobile router might be your answer to work on the go

NETGEAR appears to have raised the bar for work on the go with the introduction of the Nighthawk M6 Pro 5G WiFi 6E Mobile Router (MR6450)NETGEAR appears to have raised the bar for work on the go with the introduction of the Nighthawk M6 Pro 5G WiFi 6E Mobile Router (MR6450). This powerhouse device delivers unprecedented speed and reliable connectivity, making it the perfect companion for homes, businesses, and on-the-go professionals. Gone are the days of sluggish internet and unreliable connections. The Nighthawk M6 Pro leverages the power of 5G technology, boasting download speeds of up to a remarkable 4Gbps. That’s faster than most home internet plans, allowing you to stream 4K content, download large files, and participate in video conferencing – all with flawless smoothness. More →