Search Results for: opportunities

Narcissistic leaders are more likely to oppose remote work, study suggests

Narcissistic leaders are more likely to oppose remote work, study suggests

business leaders with stronger narcissistic tendencies are significantly more likely to resist remote work and hybrid working arrangements because they see them as a threat to their power and statusNow, we don’t usually want to fan the dying embers of the tedious, endless RTO v WFH conversation, but this is a potentially interesting addition to consider. According to a new study from researchers at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, business leaders with stronger narcissistic tendencies are significantly more likely to resist remote and hybrid working arrangements because they see them as a threat to their power and status. Published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, the study suggests that opposition to remote work may not be driven solely by concerns about productivity, collaboration or organisational performance. Instead, it may also stem from leaders’ personal motivations and psychological needs. (more…)

Data centres are the most significant building type in the world right now. And we need to talk about that

Data centres are the most significant building type in the world right now. And we need to talk about that

Data centres have always been a slight anomaly in the Built Environment sector, part property and part critical infrastructure (talking in wattage rather than square footage for example), lacking aesthetic appeal and they are not significant employers, they are often considered a necessary evil to support our hyper-communicative lifestylesThe Data Centre Congress which took place from June 1st to 4th in Cannes is to data centres what mipim is to the more traditional markets in property, a place where the good and the great – from investors and operators, to the engineers and power providers, gather to network and contemplate the challenges and the future of the sector. In Q1 last year there was a slight chill through the sector after Microsoft halted data centre plans across the US and Europe to the tune of 2GW, citing caution around the overexpansion of AI and uncertainty around tariffs. What seemed like bombshell news at the time, felt like a mere blip and a distant memory at the 2026 edition and this juggernaut of activity is showing zero signs of slowing, a market that is currently worth over $300 billion is set to rise to $699.13 billion by 2034. (more…)

The role of safety training in healthier and better-managed workplaces

The role of safety training in healthier and better-managed workplaces

OSHA safety training gives organisations a formal way to build that clarity into working life. It helps employees understand the risks linked to their roleA healthy workplace is shaped by more than policies, posters, and annual compliance checks. Employees need clear guidance when they operate equipment, enter unfamiliar work areas, respond to an issue, or see a condition that does not look right. OSHA safety training gives organisations a formal way to build that clarity into working life. It helps employees understand the risks linked to their role and gives managers a stronger basis for setting expectations around safe behaviour, communication, and accountability. (more…)

London could generate £76bn boost to UK economy through ‘frontier industries’, says PwC

London could generate £76bn boost to UK economy through ‘frontier industries’, says PwC

London could help generate an additional £76 billion a year for the UK economy by 2030 if productivity growth in finance, technology, and science and research industries is acceleratedLondon could help generate an additional £76 billion a year for the UK economy by 2030 if productivity growth in finance, technology, and science and research industries is accelerated, according to a new report from PwC. The consultancy’s Grow London report argues that the capital is well positioned to support growth in what it describes as “frontier industries” due to its concentration of skilled workers, access to investment, established technology clusters and stable business environment. (more…)

Issue 19 of Works magazine is out now and ready for you to explore

Issue 19 of Works magazine is out now and ready for you to explore

The digital edition of the new issue of Works magazine has landed, bringing you another compelling mix of insight and ideas from across the workplace design and management sector. The print edition is on its way and, we think, better than ever. Whichever format you choose, issue 19 offers a comprehensive look at the trends, projects, ideas, products and people shaping the contemporary workplace and the way we think about it. from global perspectives and expert commentary to case studies, interviews and a closer look at the materials and products shaping modern workplaces. (more…)

Companies are adopting AI more quickly than their staff can adapt

Companies are adopting AI more quickly than their staff can adapt

Adecco has warned that companies are accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence faster than they are preparing their workforces for the changeAdecco has warned that companies are accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence faster than they are preparing their workforces for the change, according to a new global study of senior business leaders. The report, The Human Premium: Leadership Beyond the Algorithm, is based on a survey of 2,000 executives across 13 countries whose organisations collectively employ more than 8.6 million people. It highlights what Adecco describes as a growing gap between AI ambition and organisational readiness. (more…)

Geopolitics reshapes CEO priorities as firms focus on profitability, AI and dealmaking

Geopolitics reshapes CEO priorities as firms focus on profitability, AI and dealmaking

Geopolitical instability has become the dominant concern for global business leaders, prompting a shift in corporate strategy towards profitability, resilience and targeted growth, according to the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey.Geopolitical instability has become the dominant concern for global business leaders, prompting a shift in corporate strategy towards profitability, resilience and targeted growth, according to the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey. The quarterly study, based on responses from 1,200 CEOs across 21 countries, suggests that executives are adapting to what they see as a prolonged period of structural uncertainty by tightening their focus on disciplined investment, artificial intelligence and strategic transactions. More than half of respondents, 56 percent, identified geopolitical risk as the most significant threat to their business over the next 12 months, representing a rise of 28 percentage points since September 2025. The findings indicate that geopolitical pressures are now shaping boardroom priorities more directly than in previous years. (more…)

Microsoft report claims AI agents will reshape organisations and redefine knowledge work

Microsoft report claims AI agents will reshape organisations and redefine knowledge work

Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index report suggests that organisations are entering a new phase in the evolution of knowledge work, in which artificial intelligence agents become embedded in everyday operations and employees take on supervisory roles over digital systemsMicrosoft’s latest Work Trend Index report suggests that organisations are entering a new phase in the evolution of knowledge work, in which artificial intelligence agents become embedded in everyday operations and employees take on supervisory roles over digital systems. The study, based on a survey of 31,000 workers across 31 countries alongside labour market data and productivity signals, suggests that this shift is already underway and could accelerate rapidly over the next few years. (more…)

Three-quarters of people say they feel psychologically safe at work

Three-quarters of people say they feel psychologically safe at work

Over three-quarters (77 percent) of frontline employees say they feel psychologically safe speaking up about problems or opportunities for improvementWorkers in the UK are more confident raising concerns at work than their leaders may realise, prompting calls for more businesses to keep pace and prioritise how psychologically safe people feel. Over three-quarters (77 percent) of frontline employees say they feel psychologically safe speaking up about problems or opportunities for improvement in their organisation, according to a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of SafetyCulture. Yet only 63 percent of senior management believe their workers feel that way – a gap that suggests many leaders may be underestimating their own culture. (more…)

The Furniture Makers’ Company opens entries for 2026 New Furniture Makers Awards

The Furniture Makers’ Company opens entries for 2026 New Furniture Makers Awards

The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, has officially opened the call for entries for the 2026 New Furniture Makers AwardsThe Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, has officially opened the call for entries for the 2026 New Furniture Makers Awards, celebrating the UK’s most talented emerging furniture designer-makers. The annual awards recognise excellence across a diverse range of disciplines within the furnishing industry. For 2026, the programme expands with the introduction of a new Upholstery Award, reflecting the growing importance of this craft within contemporary furniture design. (more…)

Flokk strengthens North American push with new acquisition

Flokk strengthens North American push with new acquisition

Norwegian furniture manufacturer Flokk has strengthened its push into the North American market with the acquisition of US-based Spec Furniture,Global furniture manufacturer Flokk has strengthened its push into the North American market with the acquisition of US-based Spec Furniture, as part of an ongoing strategy that has seen the company build a significant presence in the US and Canada through a series of deals. The Oslo-headquartered firm said the move forms part of its long-term growth strategy centred on acquisitions, particularly in the fragmented office furniture sector. The company has expanded from a Nordic seating specialist into a broader international business through a combination of organic growth and takeovers. (more…)

Study confirms that digital tools blur boundaries between work and personal life

Study confirms that digital tools blur boundaries between work and personal life

A new academic study confirms something you probably already know: digital tools are eroding the boundary between work and personal life.A new academic study confirms something you probably already know: digital tools are eroding the boundary between work and personal life. According to the new research, things are getting worse and we experience constantly growing psychological strain as a result of an always on working culture. The study, published in the International Journal of Electronic Finance, finds that widespread use of information and communication technologies such as smartphones, laptops and cloud platforms has enabled greater flexibility but also extended work into nearly all aspects of daily life. (more…)