Search Results for: workplace

Recent events highlight a clear shift in how firms approach workplace strategy

Recent events highlight a clear shift in how firms approach workplace strategy

by • Facilities management, News, Property, Workplace design

Two recent events hosted by HubStar in London and Amsterdam suggest there has been a shift in how organisations now approach workplace strategy, with a growing focus on three core prioritiesTwo recent events hosted by HubStar in London and Amsterdam suggest there has been a shift in how organisations now approach workplace strategy, with a growing focus on three core priorities. The regular quarterly gatherings bring together senior leaders from corporate real estate, facilities management, HR, IT and workplace experience to discuss current challenges and emerging trends. Conversations at the two sessions centred on how organisations are responding to changing expectations around hybrid work and the role of the office. Organisations are increasingly focused on creating workplaces that: justify the commute; develop a clearer understanding of how space is used through better data; and adopt more flexible approaches to planning and design. (more…)

A word or two on what people tell you about work and workplaces

A word or two on what people tell you about work and workplaces

by • Comment, Wellbeing, Workplace design

All of those surveys about work and workplaces must be telling us something about people and what they do, mustn't they? One of the many criticisms you could make of us as a business is a reliance on company sponsored surveys to generate news stories about workplaces. We don’t publish all of them, you’ll be relieved to hear. The ones we reject are usually too nakedly self-serving. Even the ones that have some degree of statistical cred must be viewed in the right context, distorted as they might be by loaded questions, self-reporting, deliberate lying and other response biases.  Our attitude towards these polls is that they often contain some element of truth, especially if results are repeated over a period of time. When surveys over many years tell you that noise is the biggest gripe about office life, you should believe them.    (more…)

Creativity, thinking and expertise in the workplace should be safeguarded from AI

Creativity, thinking and expertise in the workplace should be safeguarded from AI

by • AI, News

Workplace professionals and general managers should proceed with caution if they want to use AI to improve efficiency and human capital in the workplace, and should take steps to ensure creativity and critical thinking are preserved, new research from the University of Bath School of Management suggests. The research team identified two types of knowledge which appeared partially compatible with AI – encoded knowledge, which encompasses rules, procedures, policies, and datasets; and embedded knowledge – essentially digitalised processes and routines. (more…)

Traditional open plan offices linked to higher risk of workplace bullying, study claims

Traditional open plan offices linked to higher risk of workplace bullying, study claims

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace design

Employees working in traditional open plan offices are significantly more likely to experience workplace bullying than those in private or smaller shared spaces, according to new research published in the journal Occupational Health Science.Employees working in traditional open plan offices are significantly more likely to experience workplace bullying than those in private or smaller shared spaces, according to new research published in the journal Occupational Health Science. The study, based on a nationally representative sample of 3,307 workers in Sweden, examined whether office design influences the likelihood of negative interpersonal behaviour at work. Researchers found that employees in open plan environments faced a higher risk of bullying even after accounting for factors such as personality, demographics and working patterns. (more…)

Reality or perception – which do you prefer for managing your workplace?

Reality or perception – which do you prefer for managing your workplace?

by • Comment, Facilities management, Property, Workplace design

In 2026, workplace strategy is sophisticated. We talk about hybrid maturity, behavioural analytics, ESG metrics, portfolio optimisation and experience design. The language has evolved. The dashboards are more advanced. The conversations are happening at board level. And yet, many organisations are still making fundamental property decisions based on instinct. They believe the amount of space is not suitable for their requirements or the wrong type of space. They listen to their teams’ demands for changes to their space without the facts to say no. They feel occupancy is higher or lower than it really is. (more…)

AI adoption slows in workplaces despite hype and massive investment

AI adoption slows in workplaces despite hype and massive investment

by • AI, News

Corporate adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) appears to be slowing, raising questions about the pace at which the technology will deliver economic returnsCorporate adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) appears to be slowing, raising questions about the pace at which the technology will deliver economic returns, according to a new analysis of data in The Economist. Figures quoted from the US Census Bureau suggest that the proportion of employees using AI at work has edged down to around 11 percent in recent weeks. The decline is most notable among larger organisations with more than 250 staff, where uptake had previously been stronger. The findings indicate that, three years into the current wave of generative AI development, business demand may be less robust than anticipated. (more…)

Parliamentary group warns misuse of NDAs undermines workplace trust

Parliamentary group warns misuse of NDAs undermines workplace trust

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

While NDAs can serve a legitimate purpose, their use to mask harassment or discrimination risks undermining accountability and eroding trust within organisations.A cross-party group of parliamentarians, business leaders and experts has warned that non-disclosure agreements are “good for no-one” when used to conceal harmful behaviour in the workplace rather than address it. The warning followed a roundtable held in Parliament on 18 March, hosted by the Policy Liaison Group on Workplace Wellbeing. Participants agreed that while NDAs can serve a legitimate purpose, their use to mask harassment or discrimination risks undermining accountability and eroding trust within organisations. (more…)

Workplace as a third space: why good coffee and good WiFi still matter

Workplace as a third space: why good coffee and good WiFi still matter

by • Company news, Flexible working, Workplace

What do people want from their workplace? Good coffee and reliable WiFi are far more important than yoo might thinkThe office is no longer just a default location. Hybrid work has made it one option among many. At home, people have their own desk, their own music, their own kitchen. If the workplace is going to tempt them out, it needs something more than a chair and a meeting room. Fast WiFi and genuinely good coffee can change more about people’s experiences than you might expect. People might not talk about them much, but they notice when they are missing. Both influence how the day flows. When the internet is quick and the coffee is worth getting up for, the office starts to feel different. It becomes somewhere you do not just have to be, but somewhere you don’t mind spending time. (more…)

AI users report stronger workplace connections, according to Gensler survey

AI users report stronger workplace connections, according to Gensler survey

by • AI, News, Technology, Workplace

New research from Gensler suggests that employees who make the greatest use of artificial intelligence tools are also among the most connected to their colleagues, challenging assumptions that increased use of technology leads to more isolated ways of working.New research from Gensler suggests that employees who make the greatest use of artificial intelligence tools are also among the most connected to their colleagues, challenging assumptions that increased use of technology leads to more isolated ways of working. The firm’s 2026 Global Workplace Survey gathered responses from more than 16,400 office workers across 16 countries. Around 30 percent of respondents were identified as “AI power users”, defined as people who regularly use AI tools in both their work and personal lives. (more…)

Reimagining inclusive washrooms for the modern workplace

Reimagining inclusive washrooms for the modern workplace

by • Company news, Wellbeing

As businesses continue to encourage employees back to the office, Fitzroy of London is urging organisations to rethink one of the most overlooked yet impactful areas of workplace design: the commercial washroomAs businesses continue to encourage employees back to the office, Fitzroy of London is urging organisations to rethink one of the most overlooked yet impactful areas of workplace design: the commercial washroom. Long treated as purely functional and often clinical in appearance, washrooms present a powerful opportunity to create inclusive, uplifting spaces that support everyone who uses them. In many commercial environments, inclsuive washrooms have historically prioritised compliance over experience, resulting in spaces that feel cold, uninspiring and disconnected from the rest of the interior design. Fitzroy of London believes this approach no longer reflects the values of modern workplaces, where inclusivity, wellbeing and design quality are key to attracting and retaining talent. (more…)

New white paper offers actions for managing trauma in the workplace

New white paper offers actions for managing trauma in the workplace

by • News, Wellbeing

A new white paper offering practical guidance for employers on how to recognise, understand and respond to trauma in the workplace has been published by Nottingham Business SchoolA new white paper offering practical guidance for employers on how to recognise, understand and respond to trauma in the workplace has been published by Nottingham Business School (NBS), part of Nottingham Trent University. Recent national figures show that more than 8.5 million adults in England and Wales are survivors of childhood abuse, underlining the scale of trauma?related experiences within the UK workforce. Managing Trauma in the Workplace: Strategies for Wellbeing and Organisational Resilience brings together research, survivor perspectives, and evidence?based recommendations to help HR professionals and managers create psychologically safe working environments. (more…)

Best in workplace design recognised in 2026 Workspace Design Awards shortlist

Best in workplace design recognised in 2026 Workspace Design Awards shortlist

by • News, Workplace design

The 2026 edition of Workspace Design Show has officially revealed the shortlisted projects for its newly launched Workspace Design AwardsThe 2026 edition of Workspace Design Show has officially revealed the shortlisted projects for its newly launched Workspace Design Awards, recognising outstanding achievements across workplace design, innovation, sustainability, experience and adaptability. The shortlisted projects showcase the breadth and depth of talent shaping today’s workplaces across the UK and Europe, from smart offices and large-scale corporate headquarters to flexible co-working environments and future-focused concept designs. (more…)

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