Search Results for: employees

New study reveals link between workaholism and organisational harm

New study reveals link between workaholism and organisational harm

The hidden ethical costs of workaholism have been highlighted in a recent study led by Aston University and University of Leipzig scholarsThe hidden ethical costs of workaholism have been highlighted in a new study led by Aston University and University of Leipzig scholars. Workaholism is an inner pressure to working, that provides a sense of fulfilment but can lead to physical and psychological problems, relationship issues and burnout. The study, published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, showed that it can interfere with moral self-regulation and subsequent ethical behaviour, particularly in organisations that prioritise bottom-line results and self-interest. More →

Hybrid working businesses say they are more optimistic about their future profitability

Hybrid working businesses say they are more optimistic about their future profitability

A new poll from flexible office provider International Workplace Group (IWG) claims that businesses operating with a hybrid working model are significantly more optimistic about growthA new poll from flexible office provider International Workplace Group (IWG) claims that businesses operating with a hybrid working model are significantly more optimistic about growth in the year ahead than those which do not offer employees flexibility about where they work. This follows a spate of so-called return-to-office-mandates from major corporates including Amazon and WPP. A study of more than 500 CEOs and senior business leaders by  found that 69 percent of businesses offering hybrid working had a positive outlook for 2025 compared to 44 percent of non-hybrid companies. More →

Demand for commercial property investment jumped in last quarter

Demand for commercial property investment jumped in last quarter

There has been a significant surge in demand for commercial property investment, reflecting a marked recovery in the sectorThere has been a significant surge in demand for commercial property investment, reflecting a marked recovery in the sector, according to a new report from Rightmove. The platform attributes this rise to recent interest rate reductions by the Bank of England, which have made investment opportunities more affordable and appealing. Rightmove’s Quarterly Commercial Insights Tracker, which monitors supply and demand trends among the UK’s largest commercial property audience, revealed that overall demand for commercial property investment increased by 28 percent year-on-year in the final quarter of 2024. The office market also witnessed a notable increase, with demand for office space investment climbing by 57 percent year-on-year. More →

Most people are happy for AI to inform decisions about work, CIPD claims

Most people are happy for AI to inform decisions about work, CIPD claims

To coincide with National Productivity Week, a CIPD poll suggests that almost two thirds of people (63 percent) would trust artificial intelligence (AI) to inform - but not make - important decisions at workTo coincide with National Productivity Week, a CIPD poll suggests that almost two thirds of people (63 percent) would trust artificial intelligence (AI) to inform – but not make – important decisions at work. According to the poll of over 2,000 people, over a third (35 percent) wouldn’t trust AI to make important decisions at work, preferring to use human intelligence. Just 1 percent of respondents would trust AI to make important work decisions. More →

Half of people would quit  their job if they thought their boss were spying on them. (And they are)

Half of people would quit their job if they thought their boss were spying on them. (And they are)

More than half of British employees would quit their job if they were subjected to surveillance whilst working, but more than half of UK bosses say they cannot trust their employees without monitoring them, according to a new poll from ExpressVPN. The new study explores the views and experiences relating to the ‘workplace surveillance’ of 1,000 employees and 1,000 employers in the UK. While physical surveillance through the use of cameras and badge/pass scanners in the workplace is more widely known, the increase in remote working in recent years has driven the rise of online surveillance, according to the report. More →

Flexible working is not an option for many of Britain’s two-tier workforce

Flexible working is not an option for many of Britain’s two-tier workforce

A new report from the social enterprise Timewise claims to reveal a growing divide in the UK workforce, highlighting the increasing gap between frontline workers, such as nurses, cleaners, and bus drivers, and office-based employees when it comes to access to flexible working and other factorsA new report from the social enterprise Timewise claims to reveal a growing divide in the UK workforce, highlighting the increasing gap between frontline workers, such as nurses, cleaners, and bus drivers, and office-based employees when it comes to flexible working hours and patterns. This divide, the report suggests, could be reduced if the government takes further steps to implement its upcoming Employment Rights Bill. More →

How employee benefits offer value for money

How employee benefits offer value for money

Every pound spent on employee benefits is a pound that could boost your profits. That's why it's vital to ensure your benefits package aligns perfectly with what your employees need and valueIf you want to provide great employee benefits but are constrained by budget, there are some company perks that not only keep your employees happy, but can also provide serious value for money. Whether it’s leveraging tax-efficient Salary Sacrifice schemes or taking a more holistic approach such as flexible working, it’s definitely possible to offer great benefits while boosting your bottom line. More →

Older workers enduring a ‘silent workplace mental health crisis’

Older workers enduring a ‘silent workplace mental health crisis’

A new poll from workplace mental health provider Unmind claims to highlight significant generational, gender, and role-based divides in attitudes towards workplace mental health and emerging technologies like AIA new poll from workplace mental health provider Unmind claims to highlight significant generational, gender, and role-based divides in attitudes towards workplace mental health and emerging technologies like AI. The study of 2,500 employees across the UK reveals that older workers feel particularly excluded from conversations around mental health, with stigma proving the biggest barrier to accessing support among this demographic. More →

Businesses are cautiously optimistic despite economic and technological uncertainty

Businesses are cautiously optimistic despite economic and technological uncertainty

Nearly three-in-five businesses optimistic about global economic outlook as they plan headcount increases and continued AI rolloutAlmost 60 percent of CEOs around the world expect global economic growth to increase over the next 12 months, according to PwC’s 28th Annual Global CEO Survey, launched during today’s World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. The report, which surveyed 4,701 CEOs across 109 countries and territories, also finds that 42 percent of businesses expect to increase headcount by 5 percent or more in the next 12 months – more than double the proportion who expect headcount decreases (17 percent), and up from 39 percent last year. The percentage is highest (48 percent) among smaller companies (less than US$100 million) and those in the technology (61 percent), real estate (61 percent), private equity (52 percent) and pharma and life sciences (51 percent) sectors. More →

Small businesses remain upbeat about flexible working

Small businesses remain upbeat about flexible working

More than 80 percent of SME decision makers expect to see positive outcomes to their workforce from policy changes to flexible working rulesMore than 80 percent of SME decision makers expect to see positive outcomes to their workforce from policy changes to flexible working rules, a new poll  from NatWest Mentor suggests. In April 2024, under the previous Conservative government, new flexible working legislation was introduced across England, Scotland and Wales creating significant changes to how employees make flexible working requests and how employers must respond. More →

Five predictions for how the public sector will tackle challenges and lead digital transformation in 2025

Five predictions for how the public sector will tackle challenges and lead digital transformation in 2025

widespread skills shortages and legacy IT systems within the public sector remain an obstacle to digital transformationThe UK government is committed to modernising and becoming tech-first, but widespread skills shortages and legacy IT systems within the public sector remain an obstacle to digital transformation. While we are seeing steps to digitise, and the £2bn set aside to improve IT across the NHS is a good case in point, capital investment is only one part of the puzzle. As we look to the new year, we can expect the public sector to continue to face challenges in keeping pace with technology innovation, particularly in adopting AI and cloud solutions, combating talent gaps, and modernising workflows. More →

Most people say they have no idea what their job achieves

Most people say they have no idea what their job achieves

A new poll claims that most employees are unaware of how their job contributes to support larger company goals and growthA new poll claims that most employees are unaware of how their individual contributions at work support larger company goals and growth. Only 23 percent of employees say they are told about company goals, in stark contrast with the 84 percent of leaders who say they’re effectively communicating business goals, objectives and key results to employees. More than half of employees (51 percent) say that having increased transparency into these goals would help them to better manage their job and drive productivity. More →