Search Results for: flex

Welsh furniture manufacturer Orangebox have launched Be My Guest, a refuge of calm for the modern workplace.

Welsh furniture manufacturer Orangebox have launched Be My Guest, a refuge of calm for the modern workplace.

Be my guest offers space for quiet contemplation or a quiet chat without the need to find a free meeting room or quiet corner.Finding some peace in a busy environment can be the difference between productivity and procrastination. Be my guest offers space for quiet contemplation or a quiet chat without the need to find a free meeting room or quiet corner. And with more people returning to the workplace after WFH, the need for a quiet retreat is increasing. Their most competitively priced phone booth yet, Be my guest highlights the quality and attention to detail for which Orangebox is renowned. By balancing carefully considered design with ease of assembly and cost, form and function have been distilled to its essence, resulting in elegant simplicity and optimal performance. More →

UK Government set to ditch ‘right to switch off’ and make concessions on other employment rights

UK Government set to ditch ‘right to switch off’ and make concessions on other employment rights

The government is set to abandon plans to introduce a legal right for employees to “switch off” outside working hoursThe government is set to abandon plans to introduce a legal right for employees to “switch off” outside working hours, in a move aimed at easing the burden of Labour’s employment reforms on businesses. The policy was a key element of Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to establish a “new deal for working people.” Although it was not included in the Employment Rights Bill currently passing through Parliament, ministers had previously committed to implementing a right to switch off in the future. More →

Around 74,000 women a year are pushed out of their jobs when they become pregnant

Around 74,000 women a year are pushed out of their jobs when they become pregnant

New research from Pregnant Then Screwed, in partnership with Women In Data, claims there has been a sharp increase in the number of women who are pushed out of their job when pregnant, during or when returning from maternity leave.New research from Pregnant Then Screwed, in partnership with Women In Data, claims there has been a sharp increase in the number of women who are pushed out of their job when pregnant, during or when returning from maternity leave. Up to 74,000 women every year now lose their job for getting pregnant or taking maternity leave – an increase of 37 percent  from 54,000 in 2016. Pregnant Then Screwed surveyed 35,800 parents, then Women In Data extracted a nationally representative sample of 5,870 parents to create its State of the Nation report. The report found that 12.3 percent of women are sacked, constructively dismissed or made redundant whilst pregnant, on maternity leave or within a year of returning from maternity leave. If scaled up to the general population, this could mean as many as 74,000 women a year are forced to leave their job. More →

Bigger and better than ever, Workspace Design Show London returns

Bigger and better than ever, Workspace Design Show London returns

In just a few days, the eagerly-awaited Workspace Design Show, the trade show that brings together the UK workplace interiors community, will open its doorsIt’s back. The Workspace Design Show London is bigger and better than ever, with over 5,000 workplace professionals, including architects, designers, developers, and end-user occupiers, joining together to explore the present and future of workspace design and management. In just a few days, the eagerly-awaited Workspace Design Show, the trade show that brings together the UK workplace interiors community, will open its doors. Held at London’s Business Design Centre, handily placed in the heart of Islington, from 26-27 February 2025, the event offers attendees the chance to explore the latest industry trends, see the latest products, and find inspiration in the thought-provoking talks programmes. 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 →

Getting Zoom fatigue? Chances are you’re tired of looking at yourself

Getting Zoom fatigue? Chances are you’re tired of looking at yourself

New research suggests that excessive self-monitoring during virtual meetings leads to dissatisfaction with appearance and Zoom fatigueThe rise of virtual meetings has transformed workplace communication, offering flexibility and global connectivity. However, this shift has not come without challenges, particularly in the form of virtual meeting (VM) fatigue, commonly referred to as “Zoom fatigue.” A new study published in the journal PLOS One examines how facial appearance dissatisfaction, impression management behaviours, and VM fatigue contribute to the adoption—or rejection—of virtual meeting technologies in professional settings. More →

We need to address the UK’s creative skills shortage 

We need to address the UK’s creative skills shortage 

With the right investments in skills, tools, and training, the UK can continue to lead the world in creativity and cultural influenceThe UK’s creative industries, from film and television to the dynamic video game sector, are cultural flagships and economic cornerstones. Valued at £125 billion annually, the creative industries are named one of the UK government’s eight growth-driving sectors in its Industrial Strategy. Yet, a significant obstacle looms over their continued success: a persistent and growing skills shortage. This gap threatens to stifle innovation and global competitiveness, particularly in the booming video game industry. 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 →

Step into the Future: The Future of Work Experience Lounge at EXE 2025

Step into the Future: The Future of Work Experience Lounge at EXE 2025

Welcome to the Future of Work Experience Lounge, a space that isn’t just about work, but about how work feelsThe way we work is changing faster than ever, and with it comes new challenges for HR professionals. Hybrid work, employee well, being, and fostering meaningful connections are top priorities, but how do we create spaces that deliver on all of this? The answer lies in reimagining the workplace as a vibrant ecosystem where collaboration, creativity, and well, being take centre stage. At EXE 2025, we’re bringing this vision to life in the most exciting way imaginable. Welcome to the Future of Work Experience Lounge, a space that isn’t just about work, but about how work feels. It is where connection meets innovation and focus meets flow. Created for HR leaders, employee experience experts, and people, first organisations, this lounge isn’t just another feature of the event, it’s the reason you’ll want to be there. 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 →

BSI launches research into how young people are affected by hybrid working

BSI launches research into how young people are affected by hybrid working

Young people who began their careers around the start of the Covid-19 pandemic or soon after are being invited to share their experiences of the workplace, as part of an inquiry into the effects of hybrid workingYoung people who began their careers around the start of the Covid-19 pandemic or soon after are being invited to share their experiences of the workplace, as part of an inquiry into the effects of hybrid working. To mark five years since the first lockdowns began globally, business standards and improvement company BSI is investigating the impact of the restrictions on younger workers, and how transformed ways of working have shaped subsequent career journeys. As part of this BSI has opened a public call for evidence, inviting submissions from individuals or groups with relevant experience on the topic. More →

If you want to get ahead in your career, get in to the office, report argues

If you want to get ahead in your career, get in to the office, report argues

Businesses are increasingly likely to prioritise workers willing to come into the office for pay rises and promotions, according to new researchBusinesses are increasingly likely to prioritise workers willing to come into the office for pay rises and promotions, according to a new poll from Reed Group. A year ago Reed.co.uk, which deals with over 30 million job applications a year, predicted that employers would increasingly mandate days in the office and would prioritise what it called the ‘in-person premium’. More →