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A word or two on what people tell you about work and workplaces

A word or two on what people tell you about work and workplaces

All of those surveys about work and workplaces must be telling us something about people and what they do, mustn't they? One of the many criticisms you could make of us as a business is a reliance on company sponsored surveys to generate news stories about workplaces. We don’t publish all of them, you’ll be relieved to hear. The ones we reject are usually too nakedly self-serving. Even the ones that have some degree of statistical cred must be viewed in the right context, distorted as they might be by loaded questions, self-reporting, deliberate lying and other response biases.  Our attitude towards these polls is that they often contain some element of truth, especially if results are repeated over a period of time. When surveys over many years tell you that noise is the biggest gripe about office life, you should believe them.    (more…)

Creativity, thinking and expertise in the workplace should be safeguarded from AI

Creativity, thinking and expertise in the workplace should be safeguarded from AI

Workplace professionals and general managers should proceed with caution if they want to use AI to improve efficiency and human capital in the workplace, and should take steps to ensure creativity and critical thinking are preserved, new research from the University of Bath School of Management suggests. The research team identified two types of knowledge which appeared partially compatible with AI – encoded knowledge, which encompasses rules, procedures, policies, and datasets; and embedded knowledge – essentially digitalised processes and routines. (more…)

British workers now entirely unproductive, claims report

British workers now entirely unproductive, claims report

The overwhelming majority of UK workers don’t do anything productive at all, according to a new report published today. The study of available research into the illnesses, injuries, distractions, wastes of time, procrastinations, productivity drains and paralyses that afflict British workers found that the annual cost to the British economy is around £1.8 trillion, equivalent to 98.9 percent of GDP.

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Zoning Inzio’s new office with intelligent flooring choices

Zoning Inzio’s new office with intelligent flooring choices

Leading the office design, Blueprint Interiors collaborated with experts from flooring manufacturer and global leader in sustainability, Interface.  When Inizio, the healthcare services provider, relocated to its 18,000 sq. ft premises in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, it needed a workspace that would reflect its growth ambitions while promoting employee wellbeing. Offering a full range of services, from strategy to medical communications, Inizio helps healthcare brands connect with customers and patients through tailored solutions. To extend that same commitment to its employees, the company has now created a workspace that not only supports its people’s working patterns but protects the planet too. (more…)

AI adoption slows in workplaces despite hype and massive investment

AI adoption slows in workplaces despite hype and massive investment

Corporate adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) appears to be slowing, raising questions about the pace at which the technology will deliver economic returnsCorporate adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) appears to be slowing, raising questions about the pace at which the technology will deliver economic returns, according to a new analysis of data in The Economist. Figures quoted from the US Census Bureau suggest that the proportion of employees using AI at work has edged down to around 11 percent in recent weeks. The decline is most notable among larger organisations with more than 250 staff, where uptake had previously been stronger. The findings indicate that, three years into the current wave of generative AI development, business demand may be less robust than anticipated. (more…)

Government confirms Manchester digital campus as part of civil service relocation strategy

Government confirms Manchester digital campus as part of civil service relocation strategy

The government has confirmed plans for a major new digital campus in Manchester, marking a significant step in efforts to relocate civil service roles and strengthen regional technology capabilityThe government has confirmed plans for a major new digital campus in Manchester, marking a significant step in efforts to relocate civil service roles and strengthen regional technology capability. The Manchester Digital Campus received Treasury approval for its outline business case on 19 March, allowing the project to move forward as a central element of the government’s digital and data strategy. (more…)

Parliamentary group warns misuse of NDAs undermines workplace trust

Parliamentary group warns misuse of NDAs undermines workplace trust

While NDAs can serve a legitimate purpose, their use to mask harassment or discrimination risks undermining accountability and eroding trust within organisations.A cross-party group of parliamentarians, business leaders and experts has warned that non-disclosure agreements are “good for no-one” when used to conceal harmful behaviour in the workplace rather than address it. The warning followed a roundtable held in Parliament on 18 March, hosted by the Policy Liaison Group on Workplace Wellbeing. Participants agreed that while NDAs can serve a legitimate purpose, their use to mask harassment or discrimination risks undermining accountability and eroding trust within organisations. (more…)

Workplace as a third space: why good coffee and good WiFi still matter

Workplace as a third space: why good coffee and good WiFi still matter

What do people want from their workplace? Good coffee and reliable WiFi are far more important than yoo might thinkThe office is no longer just a default location. Hybrid work has made it one option among many. At home, people have their own desk, their own music, their own kitchen. If the workplace is going to tempt them out, it needs something more than a chair and a meeting room. Fast WiFi and genuinely good coffee can change more about people’s experiences than you might expect. People might not talk about them much, but they notice when they are missing. Both influence how the day flows. When the internet is quick and the coffee is worth getting up for, the office starts to feel different. It becomes somewhere you do not just have to be, but somewhere you don’t mind spending time. (more…)

Half of SMEs using AI with limited impact on headcount (so far)

Half of SMEs using AI with limited impact on headcount (so far)

More than half of UK firms are now using AI according to new research from the British Chambers of Commerce, marking a sharp increase in adoption but with little immediate effect on workforce sizeMore than half of UK firms are now using artificial intelligence, according to new research from the British Chambers of Commerce, marking a sharp increase in adoption but with little immediate effect on workforce size. The survey, carried out in partnership with Atos, suggests that 54 percent of businesses are actively using AI. This represents a notable rise from previous BCC findings, which showed adoption at 35 percent in 2025, 25 percent in 2024 and 23 percent in 2023. (more…)

Most firms are already using AI, but not many are seeing a return

Most firms are already using AI, but not many are seeing a return

While over three quarters of UK businesses are now using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, the vast majority are yet to see any return on their AI investments, according to a new pollWhile over three quarters of UK businesses are now using artificial intelligence tools, the vast majority are yet to see any return on their investments, according to a new poll from Studio Graphene.  The digital product studio commissioned Censuswide to survey 500 managers, directors and C-suite executives within UK businesses. It found that 78 percent of the businesses polled are using AI in some capacity – rising to 85 percent for mid-sized organisations (100-249 employees), the highest of any group. (more…)

Tarkett introduces iQ Motion to its industry-leading iQ range

Tarkett introduces iQ Motion to its industry-leading iQ range

Tarkett, a global leader in sustainable flooring and circular innovation, has expanded its elite iQ portfolio with the launch of iQ Motion, the newest addition to the world’s highest performing homogeneous vinyl (HO) flooring rangeTarkett, a global leader in sustainable flooring and circular innovation, has expanded its elite iQ portfolio with the launch of iQ Motion, the newest addition to the world’s highest performing homogeneous vinyl (HO) flooring range. Engineered for environments where durability, hygiene and long-term performance are essential, iQ Motion continues the legacy of the iQ range. The collection is a single-layer, homogeneous vinyl flooring designed to meet the demanding needs of healthcare, education and other heavy-traffic settings. (more…)

Reimagining inclusive washrooms for the modern workplace

Reimagining inclusive washrooms for the modern workplace

As businesses continue to encourage employees back to the office, Fitzroy of London is urging organisations to rethink one of the most overlooked yet impactful areas of workplace design: the commercial washroomAs businesses continue to encourage employees back to the office, Fitzroy of London is urging organisations to rethink one of the most overlooked yet impactful areas of workplace design: the commercial washroom. Long treated as purely functional and often clinical in appearance, washrooms present a powerful opportunity to create inclusive, uplifting spaces that support everyone who uses them. In many commercial environments, inclsuive washrooms have historically prioritised compliance over experience, resulting in spaces that feel cold, uninspiring and disconnected from the rest of the interior design. Fitzroy of London believes this approach no longer reflects the values of modern workplaces, where inclusivity, wellbeing and design quality are key to attracting and retaining talent. (more…)