October 2, 2024
A new poll from Ricoh Europe claims that people in both the UK and Ireland say they are are keen to use AI to automate workflows to improve productivity and job fulfilment, but the implementation of these systems is being hampered by their concerns about disrupting what are described as mission-critical operations. (more…)
May 24, 2023
New data suggests that office attendance in London has recovered strongly since the end of Covid restrictions, confounding predictions of remote working becoming the ‘new normal’, according to a new report from the Centre for Cities. However, recovery has stalled in 2023 and the report, London, Office politics: London and the rise of home working, co-authored with Professor Dan Graham and his colleagues from Imperial College and published in partnership with EC BID, addresses the possible economic risks of businesses adopting hybrid working permanently. (more…)
September 11, 2020
The number of self-employed people saying they have “poor” or “very poor” mental health has increased from 6 percent to 26 percent since the beginning of the pandemic (a 300 percent rise), claims new research by IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed). The number saying they had “good” or “excellent” mental health has also dropped significantly since the beginning of the pandemic – from two-thirds (68 percent) to just over a third (39 percent). This was most severe among women (a drop of 54 percent) and young freelancers aged 16-34 (a drop of 49 percent). (more…)
May 17, 2019
New research reveals how frequently being the target of workplace bullying not only leads to health-related problems but can also cause victims to behave badly themselves. (more…)
June 3, 2016
Uncertainty about the consequences of a possible UK vote to leave the EU is having an adverse effect on the country’s construction pipeline, according to the Markit/CPS survey of activity in the market. According to the study, new building orders declined during May for the first time in three years although at 51.2, the index remains above the neutral 50 threshold which indicates that the trend remains positive. The May study specifically asked respondents how their work had been affected by the Brexit vote with one third saying it had had a negative effect. Meanwhile, an April study from CBRE found that demand for office space in London had remained robust through the first quarter despite fears that uncertainty about the market and the wider economy related to the referendum would dampen demand. Meanwhile, a new survey from the IEMA claims that two-thirds of members believe environmental issues will be given lower priority if the UK leaves the EU.
March 17, 2016
Adults who commute to work via cycling or walking have markedly lower body fat percentage and body mass index (BMI) measures in their mid-life compared to adults who commute via car, according to a new study in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal. Even people who commute via public transport also showed reductions in BMI and percentage body fat compared with those who commuted only by car. This suggests that even the incidental physical activity involved in taking journeys by public transport may be significant. The study looked at data from over 150,000 individuals from the UK Biobank dataset, a large, observational study of 500,000 individuals aged between 40 and 69 in the UK. The study is the largest to date to analyse the health benefits of active transport. The strongest associations were seen for adults who commuted via bicycle, compared to those who commute via car.
February 3, 2026
Senior leaders are emerging as the highest-risk users of artificial intelligence in UK organisations, according to new research which suggests AI-related business failures are being driven more by leadership behaviour than by technology or junior staff. (more…)
December 15, 2025
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into effect on 28 June 2025. Since that date, any new product or service entering the EU market must meet common accessibility requirements. It’s a significant step toward ensuring that Europe’s 87 million people living with disabilities can use everyday products and services fully and confidently and will have a profound effect on workplace inclusion. The Act is designed to support both individuals and businesses. Until now, accessibility laws have varied widely across member states, creating unnecessary complexity for organisations and uneven experiences for people with disabilities. (more…)
November 20, 2025
The shift to a low carbon economy is expected to reshape labour markets across the world over the next five years, with almost 14.4 million jobs set to be affected by 2030, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum. The research suggests that while 2.4 million roles will be phased out, the emergence of new industries and technologies will generate around 12 million new positions, resulting in a net gain of 9.6 million jobs. Yet the report warns that the scale of disruption, combined with persistent economic and geopolitical pressures, could deepen existing inequalities both within and between countries. (more…)
October 9, 2025
For my book, The Smart Building Advantage, in which I tracked the evolution of the recent built environment, I trawled through more than a decade’s worth of data. I wasn’t short of material. I studied the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, 22 Bishopsgate in London and NEOM in Saudi Arabia, amongst many extraordinary examples of how buildings and technology can work together. From these, I concluded that smart buildings are like chameleons in the way they’ve adapted to meet the shifting demands of the corporate zeitgeist. (more…)
September 24, 2025
For decades, the idea of a “good job” was measured with a simple formula: a stable contract and competitive salary. That rule does not seem to hold in the same way for Generation Z, broadly understood as those born between 1995 and 2010. As they join the workforce in greater numbers, this new cohort is helping to redefine what work and leadership mean. Salary still matters, of course, particularly when it comes to gaining independence in a time of high living costs, but many young people no longer see pay as the decisive factor in choosing or staying in a job. Instead, they are attentive to whether companies are genuine in their values, whether their work carries purpose, and whether employers are aware of their social impact. (more…)
January 28, 2026
Intentional AI adoption is a leadership challenge, not just a technology problem
by Molly Lebowitz • AI, Comment