April 1, 2025
The overwhelming majority of UK workers don’t do anything productive at all, according to a new report published today. The study of available research into the illnesses, injuries, distractions, wastes of time, procrastinations, productivity drains and paralyses that afflict British workers found that the annual cost to the British economy is around £1.8 trillion, equivalent to 98.9 percent of GDP.
March 28, 2025
A 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 →
March 19, 2025
Many employers are still struggling with the long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, five years after the first UK lockdown began, according to the CIPD. While the pandemic led to significant changes in working practices and an increased focus on employee wellbeing, challenges around productivity and economic inactivity persist. The pandemic brought widespread upheaval, with many people experiencing job losses, business closures, and the loss of loved ones. However, the CIPD argues that it also prompted positive changes in the workplace, including greater flexibility in working arrangements and increased adoption of technology to support collaboration. Despite these developments, many businesses continue to face difficulties, particularly as the cost-of-living crisis and economic uncertainty exacerbate the challenges of workforce engagement and productivity. More →
March 13, 2025
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 →
March 10, 2025
Enhancing support for individuals with health conditions to remain in employment could lead to significant economic benefits for the United Kingdom, according to a new report from the Commission for Healthier Working Lives. The commission’s report on workplace wellbeing argues that a proactive and preventive approach to employee health could prevent at least 100,000 people from exiting the workforce over the next five years, potentially saving the government over £1 billion during this period. More →
March 5, 2025
The debate over whether to return to office work or sustain a remote team has become one of the most significant workplace discussions in recent years. Companies are struggling to balance remote and in-office work, yet strict return-to-office (RTO) mandates are failing to deliver the intended results. While many assume the COVID-19 pandemic was the advent of hybrid work models, in reality, many businesses had already begun adopting flexible work arrangements before the pandemic accelerated the shift to remote working. More →
March 5, 2025
As we approach five years since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it’s a good opportunity to look back on the impact it had on the UK workplace and employment law. The pandemic was a seismic event for the workplace, but did it fundamentally change employment law in the UK? While COVID brought emergency measures such as furlough, the legal framework underpinning employment has remained largely intact. What has shifted, however, is the prominence of certain legal rights and protections for the employee —especially around health and safety, flexible working. More →
March 5, 2025
An opportunity to boost the UK’s economy and improve its public services in ‘the coming age of agentic AI’ could be at risk if too many organisations remain ‘stuck in neutral’ on artificial intelligence, ?according to?new research?commissioned by Microsoft. The study, led by Dr Chris Brauer at Goldsmiths, University of London, claims that the highest performing businesses and most productive public sector organisations have a clear strategy in place and are preparing for the next wave of the technology – which the report refers to as agentic AI.?1 More →
March 4, 2025
Finding some peace in a busy environment can be the difference between productivity and procrastination. Be my guest offers space for quiet contemplation or a quiet chat without the need to find a free meeting room or quiet corner. And with more people returning to the workplace after WFH, the need for a quiet retreat is increasing. Their most competitively priced phone booth yet, Be my guest highlights the quality and attention to detail for which Orangebox is renowned. By balancing carefully considered design with ease of assembly and cost, form and function have been distilled to its essence, resulting in elegant simplicity and optimal performance. More →
February 19, 2025
It’s back. The Workspace Design Show London is bigger and better than ever, with over 5,000 workplace professionals, including architects, designers, developers, and end-user occupiers, joining together to explore the present and future of workspace design and management. In just a few days, the eagerly-awaited Workspace Design Show, the trade show that brings together the UK workplace interiors community, will open its doors. Held at London’s Business Design Centre, handily placed in the heart of Islington, from 26-27 February 2025, the event offers attendees the chance to explore the latest industry trends, see the latest products, and find inspiration in the thought-provoking talks programmes. More →
February 12, 2025
A new poll from flexible office provider International Workplace Group (IWG) claims that businesses operating with a hybrid working model are significantly more optimistic about growth in the year ahead than those which do not offer employees flexibility about where they work. This follows a spate of so-called return-to-office-mandates from major corporates including Amazon and WPP. A study of more than 500 CEOs and senior business leaders by found that 69 percent of businesses offering hybrid working had a positive outlook for 2025 compared to 44 percent of non-hybrid companies. More →
April 2, 2025
If you want your business to grow, become a digital leader
by Ross Pearson • Business, Comment, Technology