November 9, 2021

Wearing face masks could be affecting the way we interact with others

by Jayne Smith • News, Wellbeing, Working lives

Hiding the bottom half of the face with a mask could have a detrimental effect on our ability to socially interact and share other people’s emotions, new research suggests. A Cardiff University-led study claims people with facial paralysis, people seeing others who wear face masks, or even children sucking on dummies, could struggle to show empathy or detect positive social cues. While face masks are essential for protecting against harmful airborne particles, they can also pose challenges for individuals with allergies. Finding the right face mask can significantly improve comfort and reduce allergy symptoms. For those seeking the best face mask for allergies, consider factors such as filtration efficiency, breathability, and hypoallergenic materials. (more…)

November 3, 2021

The office of the future will be a leader-free, social-space

by Dawn Sharifan • Comment, Flexible working, Technology, Workplace design

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to work. Every business will need to test, iterate, and refine approaches depending on their team’s needs. However, after the once in a generation changes in the last year, and all of the talk about the office of the future, setting a digital-first baseline is a key first step. This means embracing a mindset shift to thinking of the physical office not as the HQ, but as just one tool at your organisation’s disposal. The HQ, meanwhile, becomes digital. (more…)

October 27, 2021

EU to boost sustainable growth of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors

by Neil Franklin • Cities, Environment, News

The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) has announced a new innovation partnership, in the form of a Knowledge and Innovation Community, to support the competitiveness and sustainable growth of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors and industries. The new partnership plans to help accelerate these sectors’ recovery and unlock untapped economic opportunities in the fields of architecture, cultural heritage, design, fashion, film, music, publishing, performing arts and video games. (more…)

October 25, 2021

The power of science can help companies create better menopause policies

by Gosia Bowling • Comment, Wellbeing

According to research, nearly 8 out of 10 menopausal women are in work, at a time when many are likely to move into top leadership positions. Despite the challenges and difficulties faced by those experiencing menopause in the workplace, it remains largely invisible, undiscussed, and unsupported. That’s why it’s important for businesses create menopause-friendly workplaces using the principles of behavioural science and health psychology. (more…)

October 25, 2021

Just two weeks to go until the inaugural Workspace Design Show

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Workplace design

In just two weeks, the much-anticipated Workspace Design Show will open its doors for the first time, welcoming the commercial interiors community to discover and discuss tomorrow’s places of work at London’s Business Design Centre from 4-5 November 2021. (more…)

October 22, 2021

HR leaders’ number one priority for 2022 is building critical skills and competencies

by Jayne Smith • News, Working culture, Workplace

Nearly 60 percent of HR leaders reported that building critical skills and competencies will be their number one priority in 2022, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc. The survey of more than 550 HR leaders in July 2021, claims the other top HR priorities for 2022 are: organisational design and change management (48 percent), current and future leadership bench (45 percent), the future of work (42 percent) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) (35 percent). (more…)

October 20, 2021

Hybrid work attitudes – leadership still face challenges aligning their strategy

by Jayne Smith • Business, Flexible working, News

Results from Howspace’s new global survey indicate that despite 94 percent of surveyed respondents feeling well-equipped to transition to a hybrid work model, leadership teams still do not have clarity for how to lead teams and work together with people as the results show very different preferences for sharing their thoughts and opinions within an organisation. (more…)

October 18, 2021

A safe and secure workplace as we emerge from the pandemic? Here’s how

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Promotion

As rush hour traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels and bosses call time on working from home, Stockport-based and photo ID card specialists Digital ID share a handful of expert tips to help formulate your plan, ease re-entry anxiety and safely manage employees and visitors on their return to a safe and secure workplace. (more…)

October 13, 2021

Shift to hybrid working highlights the value of weak ties

by Mark Eltringham • Comment, Flexible working, Workplace design

Something we can expect to hear a lot about in the near future is the power of weak ties. It’s a well-established idea in sociology, anthropology, and social network analysis theory. But it’s about to be invigorated as a way of thinking about workplaces in the wake of two major peer-reviewed studies into the effects of remote work and hybrid working on people and the way they work with each other. According to the most widely cited paper on the subject of relationships, Mark Granovetter’s The Power of Weak Ties, The relationships between people can be categorised as strong, weak or absent. The latter is self-explanatory. Strong ties exist between people who are related, friend or who interact on a day to day basis. (more…)

October 7, 2021

London ranks 78th in the top destinations to work remotely

by Jayne Smith • Flexible working, News, Working lives

Remote, has released a first-of-its-kind Best Destinations for Remote Work report that showcases the top 100 global destinations for remote workers, along with unique insights into location-specific incentives. The report is paired with an interactive tool and database with information on hundreds of cities across the world for users to create personalised rankings on where to work remotely based on their individual preferences. (more…)

September 29, 2021

Majority of UK GPs report uptick in patients seeking help for work related stress

by Jayne Smith • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

Research from Perkbox, claims that 92 percent of UK GPs report an increase in people seeking medical advice for work related stress and anxiety since the pandemic began. What’s more, 68 percent of GPs surveyed agree they have seen a hike in patients seeking support for this over the past three months compared to the start of the pandemic, and 80 percent are preparing for levels to increase further, suggesting the worst is yet to come if action isn’t taken. (more…)

September 28, 2021

Hybrid working opens door to greater risk of data breaches

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News

More than eight in 10 (83 percent) UK businesses say hybrid working increases the risk of a data breach, yet over a fifth (22 percent) remain unprepared if it happens, with speed of response the top concern. According to new research published within TransUnion’s Data Breach Support for Businesses ebook (registration), business leaders expect 43 percent of their workforce to be hybrid working in the coming year, splitting their time between the office and remote working. Yet this change to working practices means a far greater potential for devices and data to end up in the wrong hands. (more…)