April 6, 2020

So what sort of homeworker are you?

by Sarah Booth • Comment, Flexible working

With a plethora of social media posts advising us how to work at home, vlogs of employees making the best of their dining room set up and webinars about the new world of work, It’s about time to introduce a little light-hearted non-science into the mix. More →

April 6, 2020

Working parents still not getting enough support to deal with pandemic

by Neil Franklin • News

A new report from work-life balance charity Working Families claims that there remains a pressing need for increased support for working parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report is informed by queries to the charity’s free legal advice helpline, which the charity says have quadrupled since the start of the pandemic. Since mid-March, over 36,000 people have accessed the charity’s coronavirus-focused legal advice web pages. More →

April 1, 2020

The lights are on and there is definitely someone home

by Chris Peach • Features, Flexible working, Lighting, Workplace design

As COVID -19 has taken hold and the very necessary lockdown begins, there are A large number of workers thrown into semi-permanent work settings that we hadn’t anticipated a month ago. The transitions will be easier for some than others but we all need a space that feels comfortable AND is conducive to productive working. More →

March 27, 2020

Tech purchases surge as Brits prepare to work from home

by Jayne Smith • News, Technology

Research of product popularity and customer click out data by product comparison service, PriceSpy, claims that home office tech purchases of desktops, tablets and laptops – surged by an average 46 percent as Brits prepared to work from home during the Coronavirus pandemic. More →

March 10, 2020

A great company culture is the basis for successful flexible working

by Chris Dyer • Comment, Flexible working

Company culture is more integral to remote platforms than it is to traditional bricks-and-mortar enterprises. In a disjointed setting, culture is what holds a team together, and marries it to the company’s values. Not only is this a boon to getting work done, it’s a formula for business success. Consider the main challenges to many people working in concert from different locations: accessing information, clearly communicating, making decisions that reflect an organization’s mission. When we optimize these actions, we’re more productive and better able to serve customers and meet objectives. More →

March 3, 2020

Remote working has no effect on careers, research suggests. But…

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News

Working from home is known to be good for a strong work-life balance, advantageous for employee productivity, and is even touted as being beneficial for the environment. However, telecommuting has also carried a stigma that employees who work remotely have difficulties rising in their career. More →

February 24, 2020

Flexible working: one in three undeterred by career damage

by Jackie Le Poidevin • Flexible working, News

One in three US workers have told researchers nothing would stop them from taking advantage of flexible working options, despite the potential damage to their career. According to a survey of 1,000 US white-collar professionals by Deloitte, another one in three say the consequences for their professional growth and lack of trust from managers would put them off working flexibly. Eight in ten respondents agreed a traditional work setting, defined as regular attendance at an office or working normal business hours, is important for advancing their career. More →

February 18, 2020

Outer-city coworking cuts carbon and commuting

by Jackie Le Poidevin • Coworking, News

Each flexible coworking space created in a smaller town or suburban area reduces carbon emissions by an average of 118 tonnes a year thanks to shorter commutes, an international study has claimed. By allowing people to work closer to home, one coworking space saves the employees based there a total of 7,416 commuting hours per annum on average, the research by independent economists commissioned by Regus says. This not only helps businesses to reduce their carbon footprint but can improve employees’ wellbeing and work-life balance. More →

February 14, 2020

Trends set to improve people’s working lives examined in new report

by Jackie Le Poidevin • News, Working lives

New research has been published aimed at understanding trends, practices and priority areas for improving employees’ experience and creating better places to work. The report, Roundel 2020 (registration required), was commissioned by employee engagement firm Home and asked HR and internal communications professionals about issues such as integrating new employees into the organisation (‘onboarding’), performance management, diversity and inclusion, and health and wellbeing. More →

February 10, 2020

Majority of people living in poverty are in a working family

by Neil Franklin • News

More than half of the people in the UK classified as living in poverty are members of a working family. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s state of the nation report on poverty in the UK, poverty has risen for children and pensioners over the last five years. Although employment has increased, in-work poverty has also gone up because often people’s pay, hours, or both are not enough. More →

January 29, 2020

Is your biggest competitor already working for you?

by Jackie Le Poidevin • News, Working culture

Employers worried about rivals poaching their staff should be looking closer to home to spot their next competitor, a new study has claimed. In a survey of 3,000 UK employees by Synergy Creative, nearly half (47 percent) said that they would love to be their own boss, raising the prospect of them setting up in competition to their existing employer. Of those intending to find a new job in 2020, a third said their ideal job is to work for themselves, compared to 25 percent who are looking to move to another company. More →

January 28, 2020

1800s warehouse opens its doors for coworking

by Jackie Le Poidevin • Coworking, News

An 1860s warehouse located in the original Granada Studios estate in Manchester city centre has opened its doors as a coworking space for small and medium businesses. Bonded Warehouse, managed by All Work & Social, part of Allied London, includes work and social spaces on all six floors, a space for wellness and fitness, event spaces, a brewery and tap room, gin bar and 24-hour coffee lounge for collaboration and socialising. More →