September 22, 2020
Search Results for: flex
September 22, 2020
New demand for office space indicates mass `return to work`
by Jayne Smith • Facilities management, News, Property, Working lives
Water cooler chats and the buzz of office life is set to remain on hold until at least the New Year as businesses look to restructure their office needs from January. A government drive to see more office employees return to work in the workplace has seen a rise in commuters to more than 60 percent according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. More →
September 18, 2020
When it comes to describing the new world of work, the Scandis have a name for it
by Fredrik Bergsten • Comment, Flexible working, Wellbeing, Workplace design
We have very clearly arrived at a point of inflection in the world of work right now, with more time than ever spent pondering some of its bigger questions. Like what will individuals expect from their place of work? What will employers be willing to offer them? How will the culture – the very fabric – of our offices change as a result of the pandemic? In the midst of all the head scratching and soul searching over what this brave new world of work might look like, there is an increasingly vocal minority arguing that a new, better path has already been paved. Where? In Scandinavia, of course. More →
September 18, 2020
Career change becomes a priority for more than half of people
by Jayne Smith • Flexible working, News, Working lives
More than half of UK workers – 53 percent – plan to make a change to their career in the next 12 months as a direct result of the Coronavirus pandemic according to a new study from Aviva. The How We Live report claims the most popular career aspiration emerging from the crisis is the desire for flexibility. One in 10 (10 percent) UK workers say that in the next 12 months, they aim to find a role that will allow them to work from home. More →
September 18, 2020
Supporting hybrid teams, both in and out of the office
by Jayne Smith • News, Working lives
As the UK is in the midst of the traditional ‘back to school’ period, many workplaces are debating over when to return to the office, and how. The sudden move to remote working during lockdown has proven that a new hybrid way of working is in fact possible for numerous organisations, but this has come at the expense of face to face communication and in person collaboration. More →
September 18, 2020
The value of tech and talent investment through COVID-19
by Jayne Smith • News, Technology, Working lives
For middle-market and small businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting the vital importance of investing in new technology, facilitating remote work, and maintaining the tech-savvy workforce needed to make it all happen, according to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll for CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT). More →
September 18, 2020
Center for active design launches viral response module
by Jayne Smith • News, Wellbeing
Fitwel, the healthy building certification system operated by The Center for Active Design (CfAD), has announced the formal launch of its Viral Response module, with additional commitments for adoption from companies, including BentallGreenOak, Boston Properties, Brookfield Properties, DLC Europe, Hudson Pacific Properties, Kilroy Realty Corporation, Nuveen Real Estate, and The Tower Companies. More →
September 17, 2020
Working from home may be more productive, but at the cost of wellbeing
by Jayne Smith • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing, Working lives
New research by the CIPD claims the shift to home working over the pandemic has been a positive experience for most employers, who report people’s improved work-life balance (cited by 61 percent of employers), enhanced employee collaboration (43 percent) and improved focus (38 percent). Overall, 28 percent of employers report that the increase in home workers has boosted productivity, while 37 percent say it has not impacted productivity levels, with 28 percent of employers reporting a decrease. More →
September 15, 2020
Parents dedicate two extra working days a month to new Covid school routine
by Jayne Smith • Flexible working, News, Working lives
New research by Vita Health Group claims British parents are set to spend the equivalent of more than two working days extra a month on the school routine due to the additional childcare management needed due to the pandemic and employers will have to consider this in their workplace policies to ensure working parents don’t burn out. More →
September 11, 2020
The mental health consequences of COVID grow increasingly clear
by Jayne Smith • News, Wellbeing, Working lives
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 →
September 8, 2020
Majority of businesses plan to move to smaller but more focused offices in future
by Neil Franklin • News, Property
According to a new independent survey of over 500 senior business decision-makers, nearly three quarters believe COVID-19 will result in more UK businesses downsizing to smaller office spaces in the coming 12 months. Most also say they value the office and will be more focused on its strengths as part of the shift. The data from property developers Accumulate Capital claims to show how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected UK businesses and their commercial property needs. More →
September 21, 2020
Time to get on board with the psychological effects of working from home
by Jörg Bakschas • Comment, Flexible working, Wellbeing