Search Results for: change

BCO pilots new office grading system as industry calls for reform

BCO pilots new office grading system as industry calls for reform

by • News, Property

The UK’s office grading system is no longer fit for purpose, according to new research from the British Council for Offices (BCO).The UK’s office grading system is no longer fit for purpose, according to new research from the British Council for Offices (BCO). A report authored by JLL for the BCO found that fewer than three percent of professionals in the sector support the current system, with almost all calling for change. The report, Redefining the Market: Beyond Grade A, proposes a new scoring-based framework designed to reflect the shifting priorities of occupiers, investors and developers in an era shaped by flexible working. It sets out a 100-point matrix across four categories – physical quality, sustainability, technology and amenity – aiming to provide a more transparent and adaptable standard. (more…)

A third of employees are quietly sabotaging workplace AI

A third of employees are quietly sabotaging workplace AI

by • AI, News

A survey by Writer and Workplace Intelligence found that 31 percent of staff admitted to behaviour that could be classed as sabotage. of workplace AINearly one in three employees are undermining their organisation’s use of generative AI, according to a new report. A survey by Writer and Workplace Intelligence suggests that 31 percent of staff admitted to behaviour that could be classed as sabotage. of workplace AI. This includes entering sensitive company information into unapproved tools, using software not sanctioned by employers, or failing to report security breaches. Around one in ten said they had gone further, deliberately lowering the quality of their work, tampering with performance metrics, or refusing to use AI altogether. (more…)

Measuring and rewarding what people do at work? It’s a rat trap, baby, and you’ve been caught

Measuring and rewarding what people do at work? It’s a rat trap, baby, and you’ve been caught

by • Features, Wellbeing

Life imitates art. Scientists have discovered that lab mice may be conducting their own experiments on us. A paper published in the journal Current Biology speculates that mice seem to be testing their testers. They do this by deviating from simple behaviours such as responding to rewards to work out what might happen. “These mice have a richer internal life than we probably give them credit for,” explained Kishore Kuchibhotla, senior study author and an assistant professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. “They are not just stimulus response machines. They may have things like strategies.” (more…)

Redefining the modern workplace: flexibility, zoning, and employee wellbeing

Redefining the modern workplace: flexibility, zoning, and employee wellbeing

by • News

The modern workplace is evolving faster than ever. Traditional layouts of rows of desks and enclosed cubicles are giving way to offices designed around flexibility, collaboration, and employee wellbeingThe modern workplace is evolving faster than ever. Traditional layouts of rows of desks and enclosed cubicles are giving way to offices designed around flexibility, collaboration, and employee wellbeing. For organisations seeking to stay ahead, the key lies in thoughtful workspace zoning—creating adaptable environments that respond to how people actually work today. One of the most significant trends shaping office design is flexibility. Work patterns have changed: teams collaborate in bursts, focus deeply in concentrated periods, and switch between in-person and digital modes throughout the day. Workspaces that can transform to meet these changing needs without major disruption are becoming essential. Mobile partitions and modular systems allow offices to create temporary or permanent zones that can adapt in real time, supporting a mix of focused work, collaboration, and social interaction. (more…)

The power of play: how pool and table tennis can transform the workplace

The power of play: how pool and table tennis can transform the workplace

by • Company news, Wellbeing

While workplace wellness programmes and flexible policies have their place, one of the most simple and effective interventions is often overlooked: playWorkplaces are under growing pressure to support both productivity and well-being. Hybrid schedules, long desk hours and rising stress levels mean organisations are rethinking what the office should provide. While wellness programmes and flexible policies have their place, one of the most simple and effective interventions is often overlooked: play. Games like pool and table tennis may once have been dismissed as gimmicks, but today they are increasingly recognised as part of a serious workplace strategy. Far from being distractions, they support movement, collaboration, mental health and focus – all of which are critical in a modern knowledge economy. (more…)

Trump appoints Airbnb co-founder as first official government head of design

Trump appoints Airbnb co-founder as first official government head of design

by • News, Workplace design

US President Donald Trump has appointed Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia as the United States’ first Chief Design Officer, a role created as part of the launch of the National Design StudioUS President Donald Trump has appointed Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia as the United States’ first Chief Design Officer, a role created as part of the launch of the National Design Studio within the Executive Office of the President. The new position was confirmed through an executive order signed on 21 August. The initiative, called America by Design, has been established to address the way federal services are designed and delivered. The government says the focus will be on improving the usability and consistency of the government’s digital presence, from websites and forms to broader systems that affect how citizens access services. The National Design Studio says it will work with agencies across government to ‘streamline interfaces and reduce duplication, with the goal of creating a simpler, more coherent experience for the public. (more…)

Younger people want more office time as remote work leaves many feeling isolated

Younger people want more office time as remote work leaves many feeling isolated

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

A new poll suggests that younger people are increasingly seeking a return to office working, as large numbers report that remote work has left them feeling lonely and disconnected. The survey from Bupa, based on responses from employees aged between 16 and 24, found that around 40 percent say they feel lonely when working from home. Many of those in this group began their careers during the pandemic, with limited experience of office-based work and the informal social interactions that accompany it. (more…)

Updated: We need to acknowledge the role privilege plays in the ways we talk about work

Updated: We need to acknowledge the role privilege plays in the ways we talk about work

by • Comment, Flexible working, Workplace

Acknowledging our own biases and privileges will help us to have better conversations about work and workplacesOver the weekend of the 9th of August, I listened to two episodes of Andrew Keen’s podcast which feature conversations with a couple of well-known people from our own domain of work and workplaces. One was Julia Hobsbawm and the other Dror Poleg. It seemed that Julia had introduced Keen to Dror so a link between the two existed. Another link formed in my mind as I listened: the unspoken role of privilege underpinning both conversations. albeit in different ways. (more…)

UK public sector appears to be phasing out remote and hybrid working

UK public sector appears to be phasing out remote and hybrid working

by • Flexible working, News

A new report suggests the UK public sector is moving sharply away from remote and hybrid working, despite signs that the shift could be undermining recruitment and retentionA new report suggests the UK public sector is moving sharply away from remote and hybrid working, despite signs that the shift could be undermining recruitment and retention. According to the 2025 State of Digital report by Unit4, just over half of UK public sector organisations now require employees to be fully office-based, compared with only 7 percent in 2023. The proportion operating fully remote models has dropped from 37 percent two years ago to 15 percent, while hybrid arrangements have fallen from 93 percent to 49 percent. (more…)

UK office take-up reaches highest level in three years

UK office take-up reaches highest level in three years

by • News, Property

Office take-up across the UK has reached its highest level in three years, according to new figures from CBRE.Office take-up across the UK has reached its highest level in three years, according to new figures from CBRE. The total for the twelve months to the end of the second quarter of 2025 stood at 20.3 million square feet, the highest rolling annual figure since the third quarter of 2022. CBRE reports that activity was strongest in the first half of 2025, with occupiers continuing to focus on high quality, well-located space. The firm says demand is being driven by a combination of business expansion, lease events, and the desire to secure the best available stock in a competitive market. (more…)

How AI is already changing the world of work

How AI is already changing the world of work

by • AI, Comment, Workplace

AI is already changing the world of work, but not everybody is reacting to it in the same way, writes Laura AndersonAI is rapidly transforming the world of work. That much is clear. Understanding how different generations are adapting to this shift is therefore crucial for any organisation looking to the future.  Our recent study focusing on the generational differences in attitudes towards some of today’s biggest topics sheds some light on what might be driving these trends. Perhaps the most important finding was that nearly two-thirds of Gen Z feel concerned about AI’s impact on their future (only Baby Boomers reported more concern) – even though over half are still using AI day to day. (more…)

Employers face flexible working challenge to meet demands of new employment bill

Employers face flexible working challenge to meet demands of new employment bill

by • Flexible working, News

A survey by HR software provider Ciphr suggests that improved access to flexible working is likely to be the most difficult provision to manage.Employers are expected to face major implementation hurdles as the government’s new Employment Rights Bill begins to reshape workplace practices. A survey by HR software provider Ciphr suggests that improved access to flexible working is likely to be the most difficult provision to manage. In a poll of 300 HR decision-makers across the UK, 22 percent said that changes to flexible working arrangements—making it the default where practical—would present the biggest challenge in terms of time, resources and cost. Respondents also raised concerns about stronger legal protections for workers involved in industrial action (21 percent) and the extension of the employment tribunal claim window from three to six months (17 percent). (more…)

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