March 11, 2020

Flexible offices are not just an issue for the next generation

by John Williams • Comment, Flexible working

For as long as I have been in the industry, workspace has focused on the “next” generation whether that has been the overly-discussed millennials or Gen-Z. As it has grown, the market for flexible offices has inevitably followed the same path, but in doing so its providers could have taken their eyes off the ball by lacking focus on the most cash-rich and flexible generation of all – Generation X. More →

March 10, 2020

A great company culture is the basis for successful flexible working

by Chris Dyer • Comment, Flexible working

Company culture is more integral to remote platforms than it is to traditional bricks-and-mortar enterprises. In a disjointed setting, culture is what holds a team together, and marries it to the company’s values. Not only is this a boon to getting work done, it’s a formula for business success. Consider the main challenges to many people working in concert from different locations: accessing information, clearly communicating, making decisions that reflect an organization’s mission. When we optimize these actions, we’re more productive and better able to serve customers and meet objectives. More →

March 2, 2020

Flexible offices market in Central London continues to thrive

by Neil Franklin • News, Property

A new report from Office Freedom claims that Central London is enjoying continued growth in demand for flexible offices, with no sign of slowing. Flexible workspaces have seen a dramatic increase in recent years, with Central London seeing particular interest for flex spaces. The London’s growing flex appeal report takes a detailed look at Central London flexible workspace trends. More →

February 24, 2020

Flexible working: one in three undeterred by career damage

by Jackie Le Poidevin • Flexible working, News

One in three US workers have told researchers nothing would stop them from taking advantage of flexible working options, despite the potential damage to their career. According to a survey of 1,000 US white-collar professionals by Deloitte, another one in three say the consequences for their professional growth and lack of trust from managers would put them off working flexibly. Eight in ten respondents agreed a traditional work setting, defined as regular attendance at an office or working normal business hours, is important for advancing their career. More →

February 13, 2020

Flexible working can help mental wellbeing

by Jackie Le Poidevin • Flexible working, News

Flexible working can help employees manage mental illness and keep them in the workforce during difficult life events, a survey by US-based FlexJobs has claimed. Of 2,100 respondents with a mental illness, such as anxiety or depression, 84 percent thought having a flexible job would help them manage their condition better. More →

February 7, 2020

‘Alternative workers’ unhappy with pay but value flexibility

by Jackie Le Poidevin • Flexible working, News

The UK’s ‘alternative workers’, comprising gig economy workers, freelancers and contractors, have cited lack of pay, benefits and job security as their most significant concerns in new research. Yet according to The 2020 Pulse of Talent report released by Ceridian, plenty of the 536 respondents praised the flexible and ‘interesting’ nature of the work on offer. More →

February 5, 2020

Flexible working and an always on culture can be bad for health

by Jackie Le Poidevin • News, Technology

Employees believe flexible working allows them to do their best work yet they also feel permanent connectivity is damaging their health, an international survey of more than 1,000 workers has suggested. In the study conducted by Quartz Insights in partnership with Citrix Systems, Inc, respondents ranked flexible working as the third most important factor – behind salary and leadership – enabling them to do their best work. However, two thirds also believed the “always on” mentality has a significant negative impact on their health. More →

January 27, 2020

Forget flexible working, unpaid overtime is the new normal

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News

Standing out in a competitive job market isn’t always easy, so some employees may implement various tactics to be more noticeable, including working overtime. Working the occasional overtime shift might not seem like a big deal, but is it? More →

January 22, 2020

Flexible working hindered by tech trouble

by Jackie Le Poidevin • News, Technology

Two thirds of employees say they are more productive when they work remotely yet many are being held back because flexible working technology is not optimised. Research carried out among 2,016 UK flexible workers by 99&One suggests that companies are still not getting some basic technology configurations right. According to the research, nearly one in five (17 percent) employees still experience connectivity issues when working remotely. More →

January 12, 2020

Flexible working and always on culture have a negative effect on families

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

Working parents’ ability to switch off from their work is being undermined by the rise of modern communications and the uptake of flexible working practices, with almost half agreeing the boundaries between home and the workplace have blurred, according to the most authoritative annual survey of working families in the UK. More →

December 16, 2019

Is flexible working the answer to improved employee mental health and productivity?

by Sarah King • Comment, Flexible working

One of Labour’s flagship policies for its 2019 general election campaign was to introduce a four-day week. More accurately, its policy is to introduce a 32-hour week. This brought flexible working again into the media spotlight. Research suggests that flexible working and reduced hours can have multiple benefits, including improved mental health and greater productivity. More →

December 6, 2019

Employers still not fully embracing flexible working

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News

Employers aren’t doing enough to help their employees to work flexibly, according to a survey by Tiger Recruitment, which has found that a third of UK workers questioned (32 percent) aren’t happy with the flexible working options available to them. The study of over 2,000 employees claims that only a third have the option of home or remote working – a seven percentage point drop since last year – while only one in five (22 percent) are offered the option of flexi-time, and even fewer have access to informal flexibility (19 percent) or the opportunity to go part-time (18 percent). More →