Search Results for: remote working

April 10, 2013

Productivity challenges of modern office workers’ email deluge

by Sara Bean • Facilities management, Knowledge, News, Technology, Workplace

Possibly the most perplexing picture of the modern office is whether technology has made it more, or less productive. New research by Warwick Business School has found that on average UK office workers deal with 40 emails a day and one in 12 with 100 messages a day, which can’t be good for productivity. Meanwhile another piece of research by psychologists at the University of Chester reveals the somewhat unsurprising fact that an over reliance on social media reduces the ability to maintain ‘meaningful’ relationships due to a lack of visual emotional cues – which could further cast doubts over the efficacy of remote working. (more…)

March 12, 2013

‘Internet of everything’ for most firms within 3 years

by Sara Bean • Facilities management, Knowledge, News, Technology, Workplace design

Cisco techwatch

Next generation workspaces will be a reality for three quarters (76 per cent) of businesses by 2016 says a new Cisco report, as organisations pave the way for greater connectivity by investing in IT infrastructure and collaboration technologies. “Whilst cost-cutting and reducing complexity is important, creating an environment where IT can support – or indeed drive – innovation within the business is paramount said Ian Foddering, CTO Cisco UKI. “Three key pillars emerge: ‘Simplify’, ‘Protect’ and ‘Change & Grow’. Get the first two right, and you pave the way for innovation, greater connectivity, next generation workspaces and ultimately a shift towards the ‘Internet of Everything’.”

(more…)

June 1, 2026

Is being back in the office making you desk bound?

by Helen Beebe • Comment, Wellbeing, Workplace design

Most UK offices were not designed with movement in mind. They were designed to fit as many people as possible into a given space, keep overheads manageable and ensure everyone had somewhere to plug in a laptop. According to the British Medical Bulletin, UK office workers spend up to three quarters of their day sitting. Scientific Reports puts it more precisely, between 68 percent and 82 percent of the working day is spent seated, the highest proportion of any occupation. (more…)

April 13, 2026

Memories of the Office Age

by Mark Eltringham • Cities, Features, Working lives

Originally 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…)

March 28, 2026

British workers happier and more productive than US and German contemporaries. Hey. We just report this stuff

by Neil Franklin • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

A major international study claims that team enjoyment is the strongest perceived driver of productivity, challenging long-standing assumptions about how organisations improve performance. The Global Workplace Happiness Report, published by The Happiness Index in partnership with employee benefits provider Pluxee, draws on responses from 80,000 employees across 115 countries. It suggests that social and emotional factors play a more significant role in productivity than operational systems such as workload management or process design. The poll also found that British workers are more likely to say they are happy and productive than their US and German contemporaries. (more…)

January 19, 2026

Forget all the talk of Blue Monday; work is still (largely) good for us

by Mark Eltringham • Comment, Facilities management, Wellbeing, Workplace

So here it is. Blue Monday. Today. Officially the most depressing day of the year. We say ‘officially’, but like the idea of ‘Body Odour’ its common usage hides the fact that it was originally created as part of a PR campaign, in this case one for Sky’s travel channel in 2005. The whole idea of Blue Monday is couched in a pseudo-mathematical equation which includes factors like the weather, levels of debt, time since Christmas, low levels of motivation and, apparently, an unspecified variable known simply as ‘D’. (more…)

January 18, 2026

Beating Blue Monday: International Workplace launches free occupational health and wellbeing training for SMEs

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Wellbeing

International Workplace is doing its bit to ease the New Year’s blues today by equipping small businesses with the tools to champion mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. ‘Blue Monday’ – the third Monday in January each year – is often cited as the most challenging day of the year for the UK workforce. With the festive season over, wintery weather taking its toll, and a long wait for payday, it’s a time when a little extra support from managers can make all the difference. (more…)

January 14, 2026

Fashion has an unexpected influence on commercial interior design

by Laura Light • Comment, Workplace design

Fashion and interior design have always moved in parallel, reflecting both personal identity and the emerging needs of society. For example, corporate dress codes shifted to be more relaxed during the Covid-19 pandemic, coinciding with the increase in remote and hybrid working patterns. This relationship is more visible than ever, as the aesthetics of today’s fashion week runways, and the re-emergence of mid-century design come full circle to influence the look and feel of our commercial office spaces. (more…)

January 5, 2026

Actionable workplace wellness initiatives for small businesses

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Wellbeing

American workplaces are going through big changes now. Employee engagement has hit a ten-year low. Small businesses often feel these pressures more intensely than large corporations. Limited resources make turnover and declining morale especially difficult for small firms. When even one employee feels overwhelmed or disengaged, the impact can ripple through an entire team.

Wellness initiatives, however, can serve as a practical and powerful solution. When done thoughtfully, they help reduce stress, improve morale, and create a work environment where people feel supported rather than stretched thin.

In this article, we’ll share a few actionable workplace wellness initiatives that can help you foster healthier habits, stronger engagement, and long-term resilience.

1 Encourage Flexible Work Options

The traditional nine-to-five office hours are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Many employees now value flexibility just as much as salary. Flexibility helps your team balance their work and their actual lives. This reduces stress and prevents that burnout we all fear.

Around 76% of businesses in the UK already offer flexible work options to their employees.

You do not have to go fully remote if that does not fit your small business’s model. There are so many ways you can give your team more control over their time. One common way is to offer telecommuting or remote work. This lets people work from home some or all of the time. It saves them a long commute and saves you on office costs.

If your team needs to be in the office, try flexible hours or flextime. This lets them choose their own start and finish times. You can also look into compressed workweeks. This is where employees work their 40 hours in fewer days.

A popular choice is working 10 hours for 4 days. This gives them a 3-day weekend every single week. This model is great for high-workload industries, such as retail, healthcare, or manufacturing.

2 Foster Happiness with Growth Opportunities

People want to feel like they are moving forward. When employees feel stuck, they start looking for the exit. Offering growth opportunities is a huge part of wellness. It keeps the mind sharp and reduces stress about the future.

For a small business, you might not have a big training budget. That is okay. You can check out the Small Business Association (SBA) Learning Platform. It offers online courses on everything from managing a team to marketing for free. Then there is SCORE. This is a network of retired executives who offer free mentoring.

For those looking to advance their careers, you could offer partial tuition reimbursement for continuing education.

Healthcare roles offer a relevant example. Nurse practitioners are expected to remain in high demand through 2031. Many bedside nurses aspire to move into these advanced practice roles.

Supporting an employee who wants to pursue an MSN-FNP degree can make that goal far more attainable. MSN-FNP stands for Master of Science in Nursing–Family Nurse Practitioner. Rockhurst University explains that this program helps registered nurses transition into primary care for patients of all ages.

Many universities now offer the MSN-FNP degree online. By opting for online degrees, employees can continue working while expanding their skills. Supporting education like this builds loyalty, confidence, and a healthier, more engaged workforce.

3 Create a Comfortable and Healthy Physical Workspace

The physical office environment directly affects how people feel. Small changes in lighting and furniture can boost productivity. These improvements prevent chronic pain and eye strain.

As a small business, you do not need a total redesign to make a difference. You just have to be creative with your space.

Sitting for too long can lead to chronic back pain. Ergonomic chairs support the spine and reduce physical fatigue. High-end chairs are expensive, but there are cheaper options. Lumbar support cushions can make a standard chair better.

Standing desks allow employees to switch positions all day. Standing desk converters are a great low-cost alternative.

Lighting is often overlooked in workplace design. Poor light causes digital eye strain for many workers. This is known as computer vision syndrome or CVS. Data shows that nearly 70% of workers suffer from CVS. Symptoms include headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes.

Combine overhead and adjustable task lights to customize their environment to prevent discomfort.

Plants lower stress and improve the air we breathe. They can even absorb radiation from our electronic devices. Bring in plants like pothos and snake plants. These are quite affordable and nearly indestructible in an office setting.

Small Steps, Big Impact

Workplace wellness doesn’t require a big budget or a long list of policies. For small businesses, it’s about intention, consistency, and genuine care.

You do not have to do it all at once, however. The key is to start small. Pick one or two initiatives that feel doable right now and build from there. Over time, these small actions create a culture where people feel supported, not just as employees, but as humans. And when your people thrive, your business does too.

January 5, 2026

How business leaders can support disabled people in the workplace

by Freddie Steele • Company news

Disabilities are more common than we may realize, affecting the everyday lives of real people in heartbreaking ways. The CDC observes that over 28 percent of people in the US suffer from one or more physical disabilities. These could be related to cognition or mobility, vision, or hearing. Sometimes, a tragic accident may leave you in this condition. Or a genetic disorder, such as Tay-Sachs disease or cystic fibrosis, may flare up. Whatever the cause, the result is generally the same. Prolonged physical and mental stress that complicates your personal and professional life in the workplace. (more…)

December 22, 2025

The role of local businesses in promoting mental health and wellbeing

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Wellbeing

Across the UK and over recent years, there has a change in how the general public views mental health and wellbeing. Once seen as an individual responsibility, mental health is now recognised as a shared, community wide issue. Our mental health is both our individual and collective responsibility and requires effort from family members, workplaces and organisations. For many, the workplace is where they spend most of their time. For others, local cafés, gyms, hairdressers, or local shops are their daily social spaces. These are the places that people connect, relax, and interact with other people. It’s in these spaces that local businesses have a unique power to influence how people think and feel as well as their mental health. (more…)

December 15, 2025

Global survey points to ongoing yearning for flexible work

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News, Workplace

Employee engagement levels remained broadly stable in 2025, according to a new global report from workplace analytics firm WorkL, with flexible work continuing to show a strong association with how positively people experience their job. The Global Workplace Report 2025 is based on survey data from more than 500,000 employees across over 100 countries. It records an average global engagement score of 75 percent, suggesting little overall movement compared with recent years, despite ongoing economic and labour market pressures.