Search Results for: relationships

Memories of the Office Age 

Memories of the Office Age 

by • Cities, Features, Working lives

memories of the office ageOriginally published in November 2021. No author uses the built environment like J G Ballard. In his 1975 novel High-Rise, the eponymous structure is both a way of isolating the group of people who live and compete inside it and a metaphor for their personal isolation and inner struggles. Over the course of three months, the building’s services begin to fail. The 2,000 people within, detached from external realities in the 40-storey building, confronted with their true selves and those of their neighbours, descend into selfishness and – ultimately – savagery.  (more…)

HNI Corp to acquire Steelcase in $2.2 billion deal

HNI Corp to acquire Steelcase in $2.2 billion deal

by • Company news, Furniture, News

HNI Corporation, whose brands include HON and Allsteel, has agreed to acquire Steelcase in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billionHNI Corporation, whose brands include HON and Allsteel, has agreed to acquire Steelcase in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion, according to a report from Rob Kirkbride of office insight. The deal brings together two of the US office furniture sector’s largest players and will create a combined company with annual revenue of around $5.8 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Steelcase shareholders will receive $7.20 in cash and 0.2192 shares of HNI common stock for each Steelcase share they hold. Based on HNI’s closing price of $50.62 on August 1, 2025, the deal implies a purchase price of $18.30 per share for Steelcase. Once the acquisition is completed, HNI shareholders will hold 64 percent of the merged entity, with Steelcase shareholders owning the remaining 36 percent. (more…)

How AI is already changing the world of work

How AI is already changing the world of work

by • AI, Comment, Workplace

AI is already changing the world of work, but not everybody is reacting to it in the same way, writes Laura AndersonAI is rapidly transforming the world of work. That much is clear. Understanding how different generations are adapting to this shift is therefore crucial for any organisation looking to the future.  Our recent study focusing on the generational differences in attitudes towards some of today’s biggest topics sheds some light on what might be driving these trends. Perhaps the most important finding was that nearly two-thirds of Gen Z feel concerned about AI’s impact on their future (only Baby Boomers reported more concern) – even though over half are still using AI day to day. (more…)

How mentorship and community shape the future of workplace design

How mentorship and community shape the future of workplace design

by • Comment, Workplace design

It is the network of support, mentors, and peers that helps translate a passion for workplace design into long-term impactWhen it comes to interior design, technical skill and creativity are only part of what shapes a designer’s path. Equally important is the network of support, mentors, and peers that help translate a passion for workplace design into long-term impact. For me, this supportive network has been especially meaningful as I began to define my own design values and areas of interest, particularly in the evolving field of workplace design. (more…)

Half of school leavers think they are unprepared for work, poll claims

Half of school leavers think they are unprepared for work, poll claims

by • News, Workplace

Two in five 18- to 24-year-olds have never completed any work experience and feel unprepared for work as a resultA new poll from the IPPR think tank claims that only 47 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds felt ready for work when they left education, compared with 60 per cent of over-26s. Despite more schools claiming that they offer high-quality work experience, two in five 18- to 24-year-olds have never completed any work experience and feel unprepared for work as a result. By contrast, earlier generations – those in their late 20s, 30s, and 40s – are significantly more likely to have done so. The report argues that the number of young people missing out on these opportunities could have implications for social mobility, with 60 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds agreeing that work experience opportunities usually rely on who you know, not what you know. (more…)

Jobs are getting better, but a quarter of people still think they are bad for their wellbeing

Jobs are getting better, but a quarter of people still think they are bad for their wellbeing

by • News, Wellbeing

Although job quality appears to be on the rise, a quarter of UK workers - an estimated 8.5 million people - say their jobs have a negative impact on their wellbeingAlthough job quality appears to be on the rise, a quarter of UK workers – an estimated 8.5 million people – say their jobs have a negative impact on their mental health (25 percent) or physical health (24 percent), according to the CIPD Good Work Index 2025. The latest poll claims the negative impact of work on wellbeing has remained high for many people for the eight years the survey has been running, despite improvements for some employees on certain areas of job quality. The CIPD Good Work Index, which provides what the troubled trade association claims is the UK’s most in-depth annual survey of job quality, suggests that the strongest factors associated with unhealthy work are excessive workloads, stress, poor relationships with colleagues and the quality of line management. (more…)

UK suffers from a major disconnect between leaders and employees

UK suffers from a major disconnect between leaders and employees

by • News, Workplace

The UK is experiencing one of the largest disconnects in 'proximity leadership' between senior management and employees, according to a new European Workforce StudyThe UK is experiencing one of the largest disconnects in ‘proximity leadership’ between senior management and employees, according to a new European Workforce Study from Great Place To Work. Part of the organisation’s Leadership in Focus series, the study surveyed nearly 25,000 employees across 19 European countries and found a troubling gap between how leaders perceive their management style and how it is experienced by their teams. Proximity leadership refers to the ability of managers to build trust through regular, meaningful engagement—whether in-person, remote, or hybrid. It’s not about physical closeness, but about emotional and psychological presence: showing genuine interest, encouraging participation, listening actively, and recognising contributions. (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…)

Our happiness depends on kindness and connections with other people

Our happiness depends on kindness and connections with other people

by • News, Wellbeing

Our happiness is determined by kindness and our connections with other people, claims the latest World Happiness Index reportThe World Happiness Report 2025, released today to coincide with the UN’s International Day of Happiness, reveals that people are generally kinder than commonly perceived, and that social connections play a pivotal role in determining how happy we are. The report highlights a significant disparity between perceived and actual acts of kindness within communities. Global studies on the return of lost wallets indicate that actual return rates are approximately double what people anticipate. This suggests that communities are more benevolent than individuals often believe, and recognising this kindness is strongly associated with higher happiness levels. (more…)

Young men and boys lagging behind female contemporaries in pay and other ways

Young men and boys lagging behind female contemporaries in pay and other ways

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

Young women are now consistently out-earning their male counterparts for the first time, according to a new report that warns of a growing crisis among young menYoung women are now consistently out-earning their male counterparts for the first time, according to a new report that warns of a growing crisis among young men. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) think tank has published findings showing that women aged 16 to 24 in both white-collar and blue-collar jobs are earning nearly 10 percent more than men of the same age. The report, titled Lost Boys, highlights how young men are falling behind in education and employment, with growing feelings of isolation and lack of purpose. (more…)

HLW announces three new managing partners as part of new leadership team

HLW announces three new managing partners as part of new leadership team

by • Company news

Design and architecture practice HLW has announced a new Global Leadership Team as the firm enters its 140th year.Design and architecture practice HLW has announced a new Global Leadership Team as the firm enters its 140th year. Established in 1885, HLW has been led by partnership since 1900, when founder Cyrus Eidlitz joined with Andrew McKenzie to pioneer the design of a new building typology. From that foundation, the firm has grown into a dynamic global architecture practice  headquartered in New York with a flagship international office in London, and steward of the built environment. The new Global Leadership team will advance HLW’s legacy of innovation through collaboration in a historic expansion of its governance, codifying the commitment to integrated leadership at an international scale. (more…)

How Charles Handy changed the way we speak about the workplace

How Charles Handy changed the way we speak about the workplace

by • Comment, Facilities management

 

Originally published in 2019. There are writers whose language pervades our discourse so extensively that even those who have never heard of them will echo not only their sentiments but also their means of expression. One of these people is Charles Handy, who has just published his latest book 21 Letters on Life and its Challenges at the age of 87. His work resonates to this day and not least because he was so far ahead of the curve in detailing many of the characteristics of modern organisations and the challenges created for everybody by the changing nature of work and business. (more…)

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