September 30, 2021

‘Great Resignation’ means companies must adapt to needs of workers

Workers are leaving jobs like never before, and it’s causing a shortage of talent that has companies around the globe reeling, according to a survey conducted by Citrix Systems. Based on a poll of 1,000 US based knowledge workers, 40 percent have left at least one job in the past year or are considering doing so. The report from the firm sets out the factors behind the so-called Great Resignation and what firms may have to do in response. (more…)

September 30, 2021

Workspace Design Show 2021 opens in less than two months

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Workplace design

In less than two months, Workspace Design Show will open its doors, welcoming the commercial interiors community to discover and discuss tomorrow’s places of work at London’s Business Design Centre from 4-5 November 2021. (more…)

September 29, 2021

UK FM sector not doing enough about planetary and personal wellbeing

by Jayne Smith • Environment, News, Wellbeing

In its latest white paper report, VINCI Facilities is arguing that the facilities management sector is not taking a strategic approach or taking enough specific action to address its responsibilities towards the wellbeing being of individuals and the planet as a whole. (more…)

September 29, 2021

Majority of UK GPs report uptick in patients seeking help for work related stress

by Jayne Smith • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

Research from Perkbox, claims that 92 percent of UK GPs report an increase in people seeking medical advice for work related stress and anxiety since the pandemic began. What’s more, 68 percent of GPs surveyed agree they have seen a hike in patients seeking support for this over the past three months compared to the start of the pandemic, and 80 percent are preparing for levels to increase further, suggesting the worst is yet to come if action isn’t taken. (more…)

September 28, 2021

Developing a future of work strategy depends on asking the right questions

by Mark Caskey • Comment, Flexible working, Workplace design

The rapid changes to our working lives caused by the global pandemic have prompted a great deal of debate about the future of work, the workplace and corporate real estate generally. At the highest levels of management within many organisations, leaders are now reflecting on their experiences and asking searching questions about their ways of working. (more…)

September 28, 2021

Create collaboration corners with ThinkingWall mobile walls from Logovisual

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Workplace design

Collaboration furniture specialist Logovisual have expanded their range of ThinkingWall® mobile walls. The range answers the increasing demand on modern office spaces to be flexible to meet the needs of different workers and tasks. From small team huddles to a video call, the team at Logovisual believe building in visual and acoustic privacy is key in an open plan space. The new ThinkingWall® Mobile Acoustic Curve and ThinkingWall® AV Divider fit with other units from the ThinkingWall® Mobile range to create amazing, adaptable collaboration spaces. They are quick and simple to switch out and move around as often as required to divide workspaces and make flexible layouts. (more…)

September 28, 2021

Hybrid working opens door to greater risk of data breaches

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News

More than eight in 10 (83 percent) UK businesses say hybrid working increases the risk of a data breach, yet over a fifth (22 percent) remain unprepared if it happens, with speed of response the top concern. According to new research published within TransUnion’s Data Breach Support for Businesses ebook (registration), business leaders expect 43 percent of their workforce to be hybrid working in the coming year, splitting their time between the office and remote working. Yet this change to working practices means a far greater potential for devices and data to end up in the wrong hands. (more…)

September 24, 2021

Three quarters of firms planning to change work culture

by Jayne Smith • Business, News, Working culture

Socio-economic fault lines exposed by COVID-19 are creating an unforgiving marketplace, with companies under scrutiny from governments and the public and little room to avoid disputes and investigations into business practices and behavior, according to a new report from FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN). (more…)

September 23, 2021

Resilient companies need the trust of their employees more than ever

by Kate Field • Comment, Workplace

Since offices reopened, there has naturally been a much greater focus on health and safety. Office managers everywhere have deployed one-way corridors, anti-viral disinfectant wipes, and daily temperature checks in order to ensure that those who have returned to the office feel safe. Globally, businesses have learned to cope with these adverse circumstances, but there are other lessons from the past year that we should use to refresh the workplace as well. (more…)

September 23, 2021

UK employers more worried about motivation than resignation

by Jayne Smith • News, Working culture, Working lives

Research from Omnipresent, in partnership with Remote Social, claims that four in 10 employers (40 percent) feel that COVID-19 has positively or extremely positively impacted employee retention. In contrast, less than a quarter (24 percent) feel that it has negatively or extremely negatively impacted this area. The survey considered the views of 250 HR managers and C-Suite professionals across the UK. (more…)

September 23, 2021

One in five employers have changed employees’ terms and conditions since pandemic onset

by Jayne Smith • News, Workplace

One in five employers (22 percent) have made changes to employees’ terms and conditions of employment between March 2020 and July 2021, according to new research from the CIPD. The most common changes were to location of work (49 percent), followed by hours of work (47 percent) and pay levels (44 percent), redundancy/terms pay (22 percent) and access to enhanced contractual entitlements/incentives (20 percent). (more…)

September 22, 2021

Employers worry about remote work productivity, but majority fail to invest in solutions

by Jayne Smith • Flexible working, News, Technology

New research released by Ricoh Europe claims that employers are failing to invest in technology to maintain productivity across their remote workforce, despite concerns about their output. More than 18 months since the Coronavirus pandemic took hold across Europe, forcing businesses to adopt remote working practices, just over a third (36 percent) of employers say their organisation has provided the tools and technology to maintain employee productivity while working from any location. (more…)