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Growing demand for homes and lab space may be met by repurposing vacant offices

Growing demand for homes and lab space may be met by repurposing vacant offices

Rather than retrofitting secondary vacant offices, landlords are converting them into homes and life sciences laboratoriesA growing mismatch between supply and demand in the housing and life sciences sectors is fuelling a wave of office conversions across the UK, as developers seek to repurpose outdated vacant offices to meet changing needs, according to a new report from CBRE. According to the real estate firm, the rise in hybrid and remote working has left a significant volume of secondary office space vacant, with many buildings no longer fit for modern corporate requirements. Rather than invest in costly retrofitting, landlords and investors are increasingly exploring conversion opportunities – particularly into residential units and life sciences laboratories. (more…)

How you handle your home life is reflected in how you handle your work life

How you handle your home life is reflected in how you handle your work life

A new study shows that people who proactively reorganise their family routines – such as adjusting childcare schedules or redistributing domestic responsibilities – are more likely to demonstrate adaptability and innovation in their work lifeA new study shows that people who proactively reorganise their family routines – such as adjusting childcare schedules or redistributing domestic responsibilities – are more likely to demonstrate adaptability and innovation in their work life. Researchers found that employees who take initiative at home carry the momentum into their professional lives, becoming more resilient and forward-thinking. The study, published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, was led by the University of Bath’s School of Management. Over a period of six weeks researchers followed 147 full-time, dual-income heterosexual couples with children in the US to explore how home life influences work performance. (more…)

Mayors in the North of England launch ‘The Great North’ to drive economic growth and investment

Mayors in the North of England launch ‘The Great North’ to drive economic growth and investment

A new partnership known as The Great North has been launched by mayors in the North of England to drive economic growth and investmentA new cross-regional partnership known as The Great North has been launched by the metropolitan mayors in the North of England, aiming to unlock economic growth, create jobs, and attract investment across the region. The initiative was unveiled at the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds, and marks what its founders call a new era of collaboration and locally driven prosperity. Chaired by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and supported by the UK Government, the body brings together northern leaders to focus on shared priorities such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defence, and the creative industries. The initiative has been endorsed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who described it as central to the government’s ambition to shift power from Whitehall into the hands of local communities. (more…)

Parlez vous Tik Tok? How social media is driving conflict and misunderstanding in the workplace

Parlez vous Tik Tok? How social media is driving conflict and misunderstanding in the workplace

The way people communicate on social media is reshaping how they connect and collaborate with each other in the workplaceThe way people communicate on social media is reshaping how they connect and collaborate with each other in the workplace, according to research from The Adaptavist Group. The research suggests that platforms like TikTok and Instagram are directly influencing how 83 percent of people communicate professionally, fuelling conflict and misunderstanding amongst an increasingly intergenerational workforce. The findings, outlined in The Adaptavist Group’s Workplace Communication Atlas, were based on a survey of 1,000 UK knowledge workers conducted by Attest. (more…)

Little evidence that hybrid working has encouraged high skilled people to relocate to cheaper regions

Little evidence that hybrid working has encouraged high skilled people to relocate to cheaper regions

the shift towards remote and hybrid working has not significantly changed where people live, nor has it helped to distribute talent more evenly across the countryA new report and series of policy briefings by a team of UK researchers suggest that the shift towards remote and hybrid working has not significantly changed where people live, nor has it helped to distribute talent more evenly across the country. Led by Professor Jackie Wahba OBE from the University of Southampton and Dr David McCollum from the University of St Andrews, the research was conducted by the ESRC Centre for Population Change and Connecting Generations, in collaboration with academics from the University of Birmingham, De Montfort University, and the University of the Arts London. The findings show that most remote workers continue to follow hybrid working patterns, splitting their time between home and the office while staying within commuting distance of major employment centres. This trend limits the potential to reduce regional inequalities or drive economic growth outside of London and the South East.

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The world needs amazing leaders like never before. But where are they?

The world needs amazing leaders like never before. But where are they?

rapid changes in today’s environment can put even the best leaders under immense strain and cause ripple effects within the organisationDemand for integrity and strength in leadership has never been greater. A wave of quickly evolving AI technologies, combined with geopolitics and other pressures, is increasing this need at an unprecedented pace. The rapid changes in today’s environment can put even the best leaders under immense strain and cause ripple effects within the organisation. In fact, even those changes that are expected to bring efficiency and simplicity like GenAI, translate into confusion, anxiety, and complexity in many situations. According to McKinsey research, a staggering 56 percent of employees report that their leaders are either mildly or highly toxic. Even more concerning, 75 percent of employees identify their boss as the most stressful part of their workday. (more…)

Co-working spaces bring a whole range of benefits for employees and communities

Co-working spaces bring a whole range of benefits for employees and communities

Today’s co-working spaces have evolved into something more powerful – particularly in a world still reshuffling office work practices in the wake of the COVID pandemic.When you think of co-working spaces – where workers from different industries come together to share a convenient workplace – you might picture a group of young freelancers hunched over laptops. But today’s co-working spaces have evolved into something more powerful – particularly in a world still reshuffling office work practices in the wake of the COVID pandemic. As workplaces adapt to new ways of operating, from hybrid to “digital nomadism”, co-working spaces can do more than simply offer flexibility. They can support workers’ wellbeing and work–life balance by enhancing a sense of community, building trust and new friendships, and encouraging continuous learning. (more…)

Negative feelings about work continue to grow, especially for managers

Negative feelings about work continue to grow, especially for managers

People are becoming increasingly disengaged from work at a time when technological change is demanding more from them than everThe State of the Global Workplace: 2025 Report from Gallup frames a stark warning to business leaders and policymakers: people around the world are becoming increasingly disengaged from work at a time when technological change is demanding more from them than ever before. As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates across industries, transforming everything from operations to communication, the human foundations of the workplace—employee engagement and wellbeing—are showing signs of deep strain. (more…)

The full stop emerges as a major point of contention in the workplace

The full stop emerges as a major point of contention in the workplace

The humble full stop has emerged as one of the major sources of friction when people communicate in the workplaceA new poll from The Adaptavist Group claims that there is a growing generational divide in workplace communication, with emojis, punctuation, and AI use emerging as key areas of contention. The study, which surveyed 1,000 UK knowledge workers, reveals how different age groups interpret digital communication tools in the workplace, affecting collaboration and productivity. The Workplace Communication Atlas suggests that nearly half of workers (46 percent) struggle with misinterpreting tone or phrasing, making it the most significant communication challenge. Differences in response time expectations (also 46 percent) and lack of context (31 percent) were also cited as common issues. The findings build on previous research from The Adaptavist Group, which showed that 56 percent of workers find generational collaboration difficult. (more…)

Only Filipinos spend less time each week in an office than British workers

Only Filipinos spend less time each week in an office than British workers

British workers spend less time in the office than almost any other nation, with only  Filipinos averaging fewer days at their deskBritish workers spend less time in the office than almost any other nation, with only employees in the Philippines averaging fewer days at their desks, according to a new poll. The global survey conducted by property consultancy JLL suggests that UK workers are in the office for just two days a week on average, while their preference is for even fewer—just 1.5 days per week. The report claims that its findings highlight the ongoing reluctance among British employees to return to pre-pandemic office routines, despite increasing pressure from employers. By contrast, workers in Kuwait spend the most time in the office, averaging 4.2 days per week, followed closely by China at 4.1 days. Greece was the only country in the study where employee preferences aligned with employer expectations, with workers spending 3.5 days per week in the office. (more…)

New study reveals link between workaholism and organisational harm

New study reveals link between workaholism and organisational harm

The hidden ethical costs of workaholism have been highlighted in a recent study led by Aston University and University of Leipzig scholarsThe hidden ethical costs of workaholism have been highlighted in a new study led by Aston University and University of Leipzig scholars. Workaholism is an inner pressure to working, that provides a sense of fulfilment but can lead to physical and psychological problems, relationship issues and burnout. The study, published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, showed that it can interfere with moral self-regulation and subsequent ethical behaviour, particularly in organisations that prioritise bottom-line results and self-interest. (more…)

Most people say they have no idea what their job achieves

Most people say they have no idea what their job achieves

A new poll claims that most employees are unaware of how their job contributes to support larger company goals and growthA new poll claims that most employees are unaware of how their individual contributions at work support larger company goals and growth. Only 23 percent of employees say they are told about company goals, in stark contrast with the 84 percent of leaders who say they’re effectively communicating business goals, objectives and key results to employees. More than half of employees (51 percent) say that having increased transparency into these goals would help them to better manage their job and drive productivity. (more…)