Search Results for: productivity

At home down under: hybrid working has become a way of life in Australia

At home down under: hybrid working has become a way of life in Australia

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

The majority of Australian employees work from home at least part of the week, with hybrid working now embedded in organisational cultureThe majority of Australian employees now work from home at least part of the week, with hybrid working becoming embedded in organisational culture, according to a new report from the University of Melbourne and Western Sydney University. The study, Navigating the Future of Working from Home in Australia, is based on survey data collected in late 2023 and charts how working patterns have changed in the years following the pandemic. It suggests that while fully remote work remains uncommon, most employees now work from home one to three days per week and expect that flexibility to continue. (more…)

Government partners with tech firms to boost AI skills of UK workforce

Government partners with tech firms to boost AI skills of UK workforce

by • AI, News

The Government has announced a new initiative aimed at equipping UK workers with the AI skills needed to adapt to the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the workplaceThe Government has announced a new initiative aimed at equipping UK workers with the skills needed to adapt to the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the workplace. The AI Opportunity Forum brings together major technology companies and business groups in a partnership designed to expand access to AI skills training across the country. Led jointly by Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and Microsoft UK CEO Clare Barclay, the forum includes firms such as Google, Amazon, IBM, and PwC, along with organisations including the CBI and the Trades Union Congress. It will focus on practical ways to help individuals and businesses make the most of AI technologies and ensure the UK’s workforce can adapt to their growing use. (more…)

Turns out that hybrid working is indeed the new normal. For a minority of people

Turns out that hybrid working is indeed the new normal. For a minority of people

by • Flexible working, News

A new analysis from the Office for National Statistics confirms that hybrid working is now the dominant form of flexible work for many people in Great Britain.A new analysis from the Office for National Statistics confirms that hybrid working is now the dominant form of flexible work for many people in Great Britain. The figures, which cover the period from January to March 2025, show that 28 percent of working adults now combine home and on-site work on a regular basis – the highest proportion recorded since the ONS began monitoring hybrid working patterns. This compares with just 9 percent who work exclusively from home and around 55 percent who are permanently based at a single workplace. The remaining proportion are made up of those with no fixed place of work or whose work locations vary, such as mobile or site-based roles.
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UK government outlines £86 billion science and technology plan to support regional growth

UK government outlines £86 billion science and technology plan to support regional growth

by • News, Property, Technology

The UK government has announced a package of funding and initiatives aimed at strengthening the country's position in science and technologyThe UK government has announced a package of funding and initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s position in science and technology, which it believes will offer a particular focus on helping regions capitalise on local research and innovation. The investment, totalling £86 billion, forms part of the government’s broader Science and Technology Framework. It includes targeted support for universities, researchers and businesses outside of the traditional innovation hotspots in the South East of England. (more…)

Resistance to change is holding the UK back, report suggests

Resistance to change is holding the UK back, report suggests

by • News, Workplace

There is a growing culture of resistance to change across the UK workforce, particularly among women, older employees, and public sector professionals.It used to be said that the UK was a nation of lions led by donkeys. Now it would appear that the country has become as stubborn as mules at every level. The new survey from Right Management claims there is a growing culture of resistance to change across the UK workforce, particularly among women, older employees, and public sector professionals. (more…)

The amenity trap: why more isn’t always better

The amenity trap: why more isn’t always better

by • Comment, Property

In a competitive market with a growing focus on employee experience, landlords are under pressure to differentiate their buildings, and amenity is often the tool of choice. But more isn’t always better.Over the past decade, amenity has evolved from a ‘nice to have’ to a key part of any office building strategy. In a competitive market with a growing focus on employee experience, landlords are under pressure to differentiate their buildings, and amenity is often the tool of choice. But more isn’t always better. The most successful amenity strategies aren’t defined by volume, novelty, or trend. They’re defined by relevance: to the building, the occupier, and the wider market context. When poorly thought through, amenity can become a sunk cost. When well-executed, it can drive rental growth, increase tenant satisfaction, and support leasing velocity. (more…)

Gallup report suggests that firms and their employees are not on the same page when it comes to AI

Gallup report suggests that firms and their employees are not on the same page when it comes to AI

by • AI, News

A new Gallup study suggests there is a notable gap between corporate enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) and employee preparedness to integrate the technology into their everyday work.A new Gallup study suggests there is a notable gap between corporate enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) and employee preparedness to integrate the technology into their everyday work. While ninety-three percent of Fortune 500 Chief Human Resources Officers say they have begun to integrate AI into their organisations, only thirty-three percent of employees are aware. Despite growing investment in AI, employee use remains limited. Nearly seventy percent of workers say they never use AI in their roles, and only ten percent engage with tools on a weekly basis. White-collar workers are more likely to use the technology, with fifteen percent reporting weekly usage, compared to just nineteen percent of production and frontline employees who say they use it at all. (more…)

Workforce pressures spark calls for merger between HR and IT functions (say IT bosses)

Workforce pressures spark calls for merger between HR and IT functions (say IT bosses)

by • News, Workplace

A growing number of IT leaders believe the solution to declining productivity and rising digital complexity in the workplace could lie in merging HR and IT departmentsA growing number of IT leaders believe the solution to declining productivity and rising digital complexity in the workplace could lie in merging HR and IT departments, according to a new poll. A global study by digital employee experience firm Nexthink, based on a survey of 1,100 IT leaders, found that 93 percent of respondents believe closer integration between the two functions would improve productivity, employee engagement and satisfaction. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) predict a full merger between HR and IT will take place within five years, while a further 31 percent expect significantly closer collaboration. (more…)

Meh. Generative AI in the workplace is delivering modest returns that don’t match the hype

Meh. Generative AI in the workplace is delivering modest returns that don’t match the hype

by • AI, News

the use of generative AI chatbots has so far delivered only modest gains in productivity and almost no increase in pay or reductions in working hours for employeesA new study by the US-based National Bureau of Economic Research has cast doubt on the immediate transformative impact of artificial intelligence in the workplace, finding that the use of generative AI chatbots has so far delivered only modest gains in productivity and almost no increase in pay or reductions in working hours for employees. The working paper [restricted access], authored by economists Anders Humlum and Emilie Vestergaard, used detailed Danish employment data to assess the real-world effects of AI adoption across 7,000 workplaces and 25,000 workers, focusing on white-collar roles most susceptible to automation—such as accountants, IT support staff, journalists, HR professionals, and software developers. (more…)

Not waving but drowning. People feel optimistic about the use of AI in the workplace … and swamped by it

Not waving but drowning. People feel optimistic about the use of AI in the workplace … and swamped by it

by • AI, News, Wellbeing

As the use of AI in the workplace continues to rise, new research from Henley Business School reveals that while optimism about AI’s potential is on the rise, so is the feeling of being overwhelmed by its rapid developmenAs the use of AI in the workplace continues to rise, new research from Henley Business School reveals that while optimism about AI’s potential is on the rise, so is the feeling of being overwhelmed by its rapid development. A poll of 4,640 adults across nearly 30 major sectors, commissioned by The World of Work Institute at Henley Business School, reveals that over half (56 percent) of full-time professionals feel optimistic about AI advancements, yet 61 percent admit they are overwhelmed by the pace of change. (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…)

Journal of Biophilic Design to launch Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub at Clerkenwell Design Week

Journal of Biophilic Design to launch Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub at Clerkenwell Design Week

by • Company news, Workplace design

The Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub offers a destination for specifiers to discover responsible materials and productsOur friends at The Journal of Biophilic Design have announced the launch of the ‘Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub’ at Clerkenwell Design Week 2025: an innovative new platform that connects architects, designers, and industry professionals with verified suppliers of biophilic and sustainable materials and products. The Sourcing Hub will offer a unique destination for specifiers to discover responsible materials and products, while allowing suppliers to showcase their offerings. This streamlined platform brings together verified manufacturers with engaged buyers actively seeking sustainable and biophilic design solutions. A dedicated platform for the A&D community to discover and buy approved biophilic interior solutions, from standard products and materials to bespoke pieces. (more…)

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