Search Results for: people

Purpose and autonomy are better predictors of job satisfaction than pay and status, major study finds

Purpose and autonomy are better predictors of job satisfaction than pay and status, major study finds

by • News, Wellbeing

The research offers new insights into the complex factors that shape job satisfaction and how people feel about their work and wider lives.The most satisfying jobs and fulfilling occupations are those that offer a strong sense of purpose and autonomy rather than high pay or prestige, according to what researchers are calling the most comprehensive study yet of job satisfaction. Led by Kätlin Anni at the University of Tartu in Estonia, the study analysed data from 59,000 individuals and 263 occupations as part of the Estonian Biobank project. The research, now published as a preprint on PsyArXiv, offers new insights into the complex factors that shape job satisfaction and how people feel about their work and wider lives. (more…)

Is anyone really thinking about the future beyond what happens next?

Is anyone really thinking about the future beyond what happens next?

by • Comment, SF, Technology, Wellbeing

I am invited to discussions about AI impacts which focus on the coming weeks and months, but it begs the question, who is thinking about the futureThe conversations around AI at the moment are interesting. Academic. Thought-provoking. Posts on LinkedIn discuss job changes and what the future may look like in theoretical terms. The words ‘streamlined’ and ‘automated’ litter the chats between Executives and CEOs. But that seems to be where consideration ends. We are talking about the future, but the very near future. I am invited to discussions about AI impacts which focus on the coming weeks and months, but it begs the question, who is thinking about the future? (more…)

Employer confidence falls to record low as UK employers face rising costs and uncertainty

Employer confidence falls to record low as UK employers face rising costs and uncertainty

by • News, Workplace

The number of UK employers expecting to increase headcount in the next three months has fallen to a record low outside of the pandemicThe number of UK employers expecting to increase headcount in the next three months has fallen to a record low outside of the pandemic, as they grapple with rising employment costs and growing global uncertainties. This is according to the latest Labour Market Outlook report from the CIPD, which shows that the rate of employers expecting to increase headcount has fallen sharply among large private sector employers, and in retail in particular. In response, the CIPD is urging the government to closely consult with employers and business bodies to limit the potential impact the Employment Rights Bill could have on employer’s hiring plans as businesses face mounting external pressures. (more…)

Ping pong, perks, pizza and beanbags won’t get you a better workplace culture

Ping pong, perks, pizza and beanbags won’t get you a better workplace culture

by • Comment, Flexible working, Wellbeing, Workplace, Workplace design

Organisations have become increasingly inward-looking, preoccupied more with symbolic purpose statements and curated internal experiences of workplace culture than delivering real value to the business or its customersBusiness has taken a wrong turn. Since the 2008 financial crisis, best practice has led companies to believe that the route to driving greater productivity and performance is to establish a workplace culture that prioritises purpose, meaning, and how people feel. As a result, organisations have become increasingly inward-looking, preoccupied more with symbolic purpose statements and curated internal experiences than delivering real value to the business or its customers. However, in today’s challenging economic climate, and with UK productivity at an all-time low, this navel-gazing approach is not only proving ineffective, but is also actively holding companies back. What began as a well-meaning shift towards cultivating happier employees has become a harmful distraction from genuine employee engagement and performance. (more…)

Office design and the office market are not what you might be led to believe

Office design and the office market are not what you might be led to believe

by • Comment, Workplace design

The future of office design is that the physical workplace will resemble nothing so much as an upscale hotel, right? Right?Over the weekend The Times published an article headlined “The ‘super-prime’ offices designed to lure WFH staff back in”. It described how firms are reshaping offices in the image of upmarket hotels, with enticing features such as gyms, childcare, cinemas, climbing walls, lounges and restaurants (run by Gordon Ramsay natch). These are luxury spaces to make the office worth the commute, as the cliché goes. Although the author concedes that this is largely a London phenomenon in the UK, the implication is that offices everywhere must ape this office design approach to some degree to meet the demands of the post-covid workforce. This is compelling stuff and not the first time you will have heard the argument. But, is it true? (more…)

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

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

by • Business, Comment, Workplace

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

by • Comment, Flexible working, Property, Workplace design

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…)

Regional BCO Awards show how London’s best offices are redefining the way we work

Regional BCO Awards show how London’s best offices are redefining the way we work

by • News, Property, Workplace design

The awards recognise excellence in the design, fit-out, operation and environmental responsibility of London's best offices.In a city where tradition meets the cutting edge, London’s office spaces are undergoing a quiet revolution. At the British Council for Offices (BCO) Regional Awards, held today at the London Hilton on Park Lane, seven projects were celebrated—not just for their architectural merit, but for what they reveal about the evolving needs of workers, employers, and communities alike. This year’s winners, chosen from across the capital, signal what the BCO claim is a new era of workplace thinking—where sustainability, community engagement, and human experience carry as much weight as style and status. The awards recognise excellence in the design, fit-out, operation and environmental responsibility of London’s best offices. The 2025 cohort offers more than inspiration; it sets a bold new benchmark for the offices of tomorrow. (more…)

Negative feelings about work continue to grow, especially for managers

Negative feelings about work continue to grow, especially for managers

by • AI, Flexible working, News, Technology, Wellbeing

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…)

What kind of change leader do you want to be?

What kind of change leader do you want to be?

by • Business, Comment, JB

Taking the stage, owning the message, and driving the agenda were seen as hallmarks of a strong change leader. But the evolving needs of organisations, teams, and individuals are reshaping this definition.Change is inevitable. Whether in business, communities, or our personal lives, change is a constant—and in every instance, someone is leading it. Leadership during change is not limited to formal positions or job titles. Every day, in countless ways, individuals step into roles that influence, guide, and support others through transition. The question is: what kind of change leader do you want to be? In many traditional models of leadership, success has been closely associated with visibility, authority, and control. Taking the stage, owning the message, and driving the agenda were seen as hallmarks of strong leadership. But the evolving needs of organisations, teams, and individuals are reshaping this definition. (more…)

Come fly with me. The new digital issue of IN magazine is here for you

Come fly with me. The new digital issue of IN magazine is here for you

by • IN Magazine, News, Premium Content

The digital edition of IN magazine 23 is now out and available for you here.The digital edition of IN magazine 23 is now out and available for you here. In this issue: why we act up at airports and what designers can do about it; the datacentre market is struggling to keep up with AI’s rapacious demand for resources; a review of the Workspace Design Show which keeps getting better; what a new generation of buildings can tell us about how to balance ethical goals with organisational strategy; the headquarters of Italy’s largest co-op; the difficulties of keeping up with developments in AI and why we need to keep trying; and a book that sets out the research based business case for the office. Plus loads of great commentary and our regular round up of product and business news and events. (more…)

Far from lightening the load, could AI lead to burnout?

Far from lightening the load, could AI lead to burnout?

by • AI, Comment, SF, Wellbeing

The idea of AI being able to lift some of the daily administrative burden off employees is appealing and it’s certainly a large part of the sales pitch of AI tech suppliers. But will it work?When speaking to leaders about the integration of AI into their businesses, one positive repeated to me in every conversation is ‘AI will lighten the load’. Workplace wellbeing is a recognised priority, with most businesses and organisations seeking to minimise stress and burnout and, ultimately, reduce costly sickness absence. The idea of AI being able to lift some of the daily administrative burden off employees is appealing and it’s certainly a large part of the sales pitch of AI tech suppliers. But will it work? (more…)

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