Search Results for: health

Applying a bit of know-how to the issue of sustainable office design

Applying a bit of know-how to the issue of sustainable office design

Sustainable office design is a constantly evolving, complex, and, at times, contested subject and the perfect subject for a get togetherSustainable office design is a constantly evolving, complex, and, at times, contested subject. It has shifted from a narrow focus to a broader, holistic framework embracing environmental, social, and economic issues – and now further to include governance. Collaboration is critically important – combining knowledge can ensure that environmental goals align with social metrics leading to more comprehensive, high-performance, and adaptable, human-centric spaces. Now in its fourth year, the Sustainable Design Forum returns on 23 April at Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell, London. Hosted by the SDC – the Sustainable Design Collective, the day is not a trade show or conference. It is specifically focussed on collaboration and knowledge sharing to provide an opportunity for all members of the workplace and hospitality design community to build connections and understanding. (more…)

Traditional open plan offices linked to higher risk of workplace bullying, study claims

Traditional open plan offices linked to higher risk of workplace bullying, study claims

Employees working in traditional open plan offices are significantly more likely to experience workplace bullying than those in private or smaller shared spaces, according to new research published in the journal Occupational Health Science.Employees working in traditional open plan offices are significantly more likely to experience workplace bullying than those in private or smaller shared spaces, according to new research published in the journal Occupational Health Science. The study, based on a nationally representative sample of 3,307 workers in Sweden, examined whether office design influences the likelihood of negative interpersonal behaviour at work. Researchers found that employees in open plan environments faced a higher risk of bullying even after accounting for factors such as personality, demographics and working patterns. (more…)

Zoning Inzio’s new office with intelligent flooring choices

Zoning Inzio’s new office with intelligent flooring choices

Leading the office design, Blueprint Interiors collaborated with experts from flooring manufacturer and global leader in sustainability, Interface.  When Inizio, the healthcare services provider, relocated to its 18,000 sq. ft premises in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, it needed a workspace that would reflect its growth ambitions while promoting employee wellbeing. Offering a full range of services, from strategy to medical communications, Inizio helps healthcare brands connect with customers and patients through tailored solutions. To extend that same commitment to its employees, the company has now created a workspace that not only supports its people’s working patterns but protects the planet too. (more…)

Tarkett introduces iQ Motion to its industry-leading iQ range

Tarkett introduces iQ Motion to its industry-leading iQ range

Tarkett, a global leader in sustainable flooring and circular innovation, has expanded its elite iQ portfolio with the launch of iQ Motion, the newest addition to the world’s highest performing homogeneous vinyl (HO) flooring rangeTarkett, a global leader in sustainable flooring and circular innovation, has expanded its elite iQ portfolio with the launch of iQ Motion, the newest addition to the world’s highest performing homogeneous vinyl (HO) flooring range. Engineered for environments where durability, hygiene and long-term performance are essential, iQ Motion continues the legacy of the iQ range. The collection is a single-layer, homogeneous vinyl flooring designed to meet the demanding needs of healthcare, education and other heavy-traffic settings. (more…)

Real estate sector showing resilience in spite of global volatility

Real estate sector showing resilience in spite of global volatility

Improving market fundamentals and a rise in available capital are helping the global real estate sector as a new cycle begins

Improving market fundamentals and a rise in available capital are helping the global real estate sector as a new cycle begins. Inflation and interest rates are becoming more stable. Property values also appear to be recovering from recent lows, and investment activity is returning in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. However, uncertainty linked to deglobalisation, geopolitical tensions and difficult economic conditions still poses a significant challenge for investors. This is according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate Global Outlook 2026 report from PwC and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). (more…)

New digital issue of Works magazine is available for you to read online. If you don’t get the print edition, you’re missing out

New digital issue of Works magazine is available for you to read online. If you don’t get the print edition, you’re missing out

The new issue of Works magazine is now available for you to read online free. 2026 promises to be yet another revolutionary year for work and workplaces and we'll be with you at every step along the waThe new issue of Works magazine is now available for you to read online free. 2026 promises to be yet another revolutionary year for work and workplaces and we’ll be with you at every step along the way. In this issue: you’ll find three case studies and a round up of projects highlighting new thinking and best practice in workplace design; we consider how Canary Wharf and other business districts are in rude health in spite of the obituaries we may have read about them in recent years; there’s commentary from Adam Scott, Su Lim and Stephanie Fitzgerald; we have reports from two round tables in London as well as a look back on Design Mumbai; the latest news on products, materials and events. Plus there are loads more features, including our podcast series with Shaw Contract exploring the different facets of comfort. (more…)

Decline in number of jobs offering remote work could hinder efforts to get more people into work

Decline in number of jobs offering remote work could hinder efforts to get more people into work

A significant decrease in the availability of jobs offering fully remote work in the UK is a potential obstacle to government plans to boost employmentA significant decrease in the availability of jobs offering fully remote work in the UK is a potential obstacle to government plans to boost employment, according to research from the Work Foundation at Lancaster University. The study, part of a large mixed-methods research project examining remote and hybrid working among disabled workers, surveyed more than 1,200 people. Around 85 percent of respondents said access to remote or hybrid work was essential or very important when looking for a new job, and nearly half said they would prefer to work fully remotely. (more…)

The ROI of predictive property management with IoT sensors

The ROI of predictive property management with IoT sensors

It’s all well and good eulogising about the technological benefits of incorporating the burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) within property management but do the numbers stack up?It’s all well and good eulogising about the technological benefits of incorporating the burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) within property management but do the numbers stack up? What is the likely return on investment (ROI) of shifting from the existing reactive model to something distinctly more proactive and predictive? A recent six-month project at a retirement complex in the Scottish Borders might just shed some light on the viability, or otherwise, of the IoT revolution that’s well underway. (more…)

Lack of innovation continues to hamper small business and startups

Lack of innovation continues to hamper small business and startups

Small business innovation in the UK has fallen for the fourth consecutive year despite record levels of entrepreneurial ambition,Small business innovation in the UK has fallen for the fourth consecutive year despite record levels of entrepreneurial ambition, according to the latest State of Small Business Britain report from the Enterprise Research Centre. The annual study draws together findings from a range of business surveys and shows that 36 percent of working age adults are now starting, running or planning to launch a business. This is the highest level recorded since the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor began tracking activity in 1999. Early stage entrepreneurial activity has doubled since the early 2000s and has stabilised at around 12 percent. (more…)

Wellbeing overtakes financial security as top workforce concern, study claims

Wellbeing overtakes financial security as top workforce concern, study claims

Wellbeing has overtaken financial security as the primary concern for UK employees, according to new research from MercerWellbeing has overtaken financial security as the primary concern for UK employees, according to new research from Mercer, reflecting a shift in workforce priorities after several years of economic and social disruption. The findings come from Mercer’s Inside Employees’ Minds: Building Confidence in a Changed World 2025 to 2026 report, based on responses from more than 4,000 UK workers. While financial pressures remain widespread, concerns around physical, mental and emotional health now dominate. The study found that 32 percent of employees report poor mental health, with higher prevalence among younger workers. (more…)

New white paper offers actions for managing trauma in the workplace

New white paper offers actions for managing trauma in the workplace

A new white paper offering practical guidance for employers on how to recognise, understand and respond to trauma in the workplace has been published by Nottingham Business SchoolA new white paper offering practical guidance for employers on how to recognise, understand and respond to trauma in the workplace has been published by Nottingham Business School (NBS), part of Nottingham Trent University. Recent national figures show that more than 8.5 million adults in England and Wales are survivors of childhood abuse, underlining the scale of trauma?related experiences within the UK workforce. Managing Trauma in the Workplace: Strategies for Wellbeing and Organisational Resilience brings together research, survivor perspectives, and evidence?based recommendations to help HR professionals and managers create psychologically safe working environments. (more…)

AI isn’t turning robots into humans, it’s turning humans into robots.

AI isn’t turning robots into humans, it’s turning humans into robots.

in amongst all the noise, I’m paying less attention to how AI is seemingly becoming more human, and more attention to how we are using AI to become robot-like.In all the conversations, debates and shouting matches about AI that continue to dominate the internet, there is much talk about the insidious danger of anthropomorphising AI. There is something chilling about the deliberate stumbles, inflections and hesitations that are put into AI communications, to try and convince people that they are talking to a sentient being. Explanations of AI deliberately use language such as ‘the model understands’ to make us believe that AI is developing a human level of learning, as that is more appealing than saying ‘the algorithm predictions are expanding’ (and neatly glosses over the increasing error rates and hallucinations). However, in amongst all the noise, I’m paying less attention to how AI is seemingly becoming more human, and more attention to how we are using AI to become robot-like. (more…)