Search Results for: people

Young people aren’t lazy or disloyal. They just expect different leadership

Young people aren’t lazy or disloyal. They just expect different leadership

by • Comment, Workplace

As they join the workforce in greater numbers, this new cohort is helping to redefine what work and leadership meanFor decades, the idea of a “good job” was measured with a simple formula: a stable contract and competitive salary. That rule does not seem to hold in the same way for Generation Z, broadly understood as those born between 1995 and 2010. As they join the workforce in greater numbers, this new cohort is helping to redefine what work and leadership mean. Salary still matters, of course, particularly when it comes to gaining independence in a time of high living costs, but many young people no longer see pay as the decisive factor in choosing or staying in a job. Instead, they are attentive to whether companies are genuine in their values, whether their work carries purpose, and whether employers are aware of their social impact. (more…)

People are handing work to AI agents even though they are unreliable and lack accountability

People are handing work to AI agents even though they are unreliable and lack accountability

by • AI, News

UK workers expect to hand over almost a third of their workload to AI agents within the next year, yet most say the technology is still unreliable and lacks clear accountabilityUK workers expect to hand over almost a third of their workload to AI agents within the next year, yet most say the technology is still unreliable and lacks clear accountability, according to a new poll from Asana’s Work Innovation Lab. The survey of more than 2,000 workers, including 1,021 in the UK, found that employees anticipate delegating 32 percent of tasks to AI within 12 months and 41 percent within three years. At present, only a quarter feel ready to do so. Despite the rapid spread of adoption, with nearly three-quarters already using AI agents, concerns about reliability and oversight remain high. (more…)

AI is actually adding to people’s workloads, increasing burnout fears

AI is actually adding to people’s workloads, increasing burnout fears

by • AI, News, Wellbeing

The survey from Resource Guru suggests that one in five UK agency workers believe AI has increased the amount of work they do, fuelling concerns about burnout in an industry already known for long hours and client pressureAgency staff say artificial intelligence is adding to their workloads rather than reducing them, according to a new poll. The survey from Resource Guru suggests that one in five UK agency workers believe AI has increased the amount of work they do, fuelling concerns about burnout in an industry already known for long hours and client pressure. The report challenges the common assumption that AI automatically speeds up delivery and cuts costs. Instead, respondents highlighted new layers of hidden work, including drafting detailed prompts and templates to generate usable material, fixing errors in AI outputs, and managing compliance and client expectations. Much of this extra work is unrecognised, with clients often assuming AI should make services faster and cheaper. (more…)

Flexible working policies have only a limited effect on how people actually work

Flexible working policies have only a limited effect on how people actually work

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

A major UK policy reform to expand workers’ rights to request flexible working has not substantially changed how people work in practice, according to new researchA major UK policy reform to expand workers’ rights to request flexible working has not substantially changed how people work in practice, according to new research from King’s Business School, UCL and City, University of London. The study analysed data from more than 15,000 employees in the UK Household Longitudinal Study spanning 2010 to 2020, focusing in particular on the 2014 policy that extended the legal right to request flexible working to all employees with at least 26 weeks’ service, rather than just parents or carers. It found that while women are more likely to reduce their hours following the reform, there was no corresponding increase in remote working or flexitime among either men or women. (more…)

People are still powering productivity in the era of AI

People are still powering productivity in the era of AI

by • AI, Comment, Workplace

The rise in employers committing to employee-first productivity practices is encouraging. Ultimately, people are still at the heart of every organisation. AI will continue to develop, but with teams that bring personality and spark to their roles, businesses can boost efficiency without losing the human element.Employee productivity has been cast into the spotlight in recent months, thanks to the acceleration of AI. Our new research shows that 50 percent of businesses are prioritising employee productivity over the next two years, budgeting for resources that promote individual staff performance and effectiveness. AI’s growing role in the workplace is, of course, a key driver of this trend. But it’s not the only factor. Increased remote work and other operational challenges mean businesses are looking to maximise efficiency and get the best possible return on their investment. (more…)

Return to office policies now more common, but raise people’s expectation of better workplaces

Return to office policies now more common, but raise people’s expectation of better workplaces

by • Flexible working, News, Property, Workplace

The news that Microsoft has introduced a formal hybrid working policy has sparked the usual pointless to and fro on social media about return to office policies, but it would seem for a growing number of firms and their employees, the debate is overThe news that Microsoft has introduced a formal hybrid working policy has sparked the usual pointless to and fro on social media about return to office policies, but it would seem for a growing number of firms and their employees, the debate is over. According to new global research from JLL, 72 percent of employees now view attendance requirements in a positive light, but this shift comes with heightened expectations for workplace quality, flexibility and wellbeing. (more…)

People want performance over quirky features in their offices

People want performance over quirky features in their offices

by • News, Workplace

A new report claims that employees are less interested in quirky office features and more concerned about how well their workplaces support performance.A new report claims that employees are less interested in quirky office features and more concerned about how well their workplaces support performance. Mitie’s latest Productivity Reset Report [registration requires you to receive marketing – you can’t opt out] highlights that while games areas and other recreational facilities may generate headlines, only 14 percent of employees believe such features contribute meaningfully to workplace satisfaction or productivity. In contrast, almost nine in ten (88 percent) said that a safe, well-maintained office is a critical factor in their day-to-day working experience. (more…)

Measuring and rewarding what people do at work? It’s a rat trap, baby, and you’ve been caught

Measuring and rewarding what people do at work? It’s a rat trap, baby, and you’ve been caught

by • Features, Wellbeing

Life imitates art. Scientists have discovered that lab mice may be conducting their own experiments on us. A paper published in the journal Current Biology speculates that mice seem to be testing their testers. They do this by deviating from simple behaviours such as responding to rewards to work out what might happen. “These mice have a richer internal life than we probably give them credit for,” explained Kishore Kuchibhotla, senior study author and an assistant professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. “They are not just stimulus response machines. They may have things like strategies.” (more…)

Younger people want more office time as remote work leaves many feeling isolated

Younger people want more office time as remote work leaves many feeling isolated

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

A new poll suggests that younger people are increasingly seeking a return to office working, as large numbers report that remote work has left them feeling lonely and disconnected. The survey from Bupa, based on responses from employees aged between 16 and 24, found that around 40 percent say they feel lonely when working from home. Many of those in this group began their careers during the pandemic, with limited experience of office-based work and the informal social interactions that accompany it. (more…)

Growing number of businesses want people back in the office, but not in all sectors

Growing number of businesses want people back in the office, but not in all sectors

by • Flexible working, News

Over two fifths (41 percent) of businesses have emphasised the need for people to work in a physical workspace such as an office over the past year, according to a new pollOver two fifths (41 percent) of businesses have emphasised the need for people to work in a physical workspace such as an office over the past year, according to a new poll from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). While most of the firms (67 percent) who require onsite working say it hasn’t impacted recruitment or retention, one in ten relevant businesses (9 percent) have seen staff leave in response. (more…)

Lack of flexible working options drives a million people to swap jobs last year

Lack of flexible working options drives a million people to swap jobs last year

by • Flexible working, News

More than a million UK workers have quit their jobs in the past year due to a lack of flexible working, according to a new poll from the CIPD.More than a million UK workers have quit their jobs in the past year due to a lack of flexible working, according to a new poll from the CIPD. The organisation’s latest report highlights a growing tension between employer demands and employee expectations, particularly among younger workers. The survey of 2,000 employers and 5,000 employees suggests that around 3 percent of the workforce left their roles since January 2024 because they were unable to access the flexibility they needed. The findings come more than a year after UK workers gained the legal right to request flexible working from day one. (more…)

People put a value on human connection, even when AI communicates in the same way

People put a value on human connection, even when AI communicates in the same way

by • AI, News, Wellbeing

Human-attributed responses are perceived as more supportive, emotionally resonant, and caring than identically AI-generated responsesHuman-attributed responses are perceived as more supportive, emotionally resonant, and caring than identically AI-generated responses, according to a new study by Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers. Published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, the study involved over 6,000 participants in nine different experiments in which chatbot responses were crafted by large language models (LLMs). The research reveals that human-attributed responses are perceived as more supportive, more emotionally resonant, and more caring than identical AI-generated responses. (more…)

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