Search Results for: workplace

November 28, 2018

Employers to prioritise career development, wellbeing and flexibility

by Sara Bean • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing, Workplace

The majority of employers (97 percent) are planning to maintain or increase how much they spend on employee benefits over the next two years, according to new research published today by the CIPD and LCP. In the latest ‘Reward management’ report, released today, 8 in 10 employers (81 percent) said they intend to spend the same amount on employee benefits over the next two years as they currently do, while 16 percent plan to increase their investment to address staff wellbeing and career development.

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November 28, 2018

New report challenges idea that productivity has no link with income

by Mark Eltringham • News, Workplace

A new IZA World of Labor report published today suggests that workers’ effort may be more responsive to wage incentives and therefore the efficiency costs of progressive labour income taxation larger than previously thought. A fundamental question in economic policy is how labour supply responds to changes in remuneration. The responsiveness of labour supply determines the size of the employment impact and efficiency loss of progressive income taxation for example. The economist Tess Stafford of the University of New South Wales, Australia, summarises a number of recent studies of independent contractors’ labour supply which confirm a key prediction of economic theory: workers work more (in fact, quite a bit more) when earnings are temporarily high.

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November 28, 2018

Government treading carefully with proposed plans for gig workers

by Neil Tonks • Comment, Flexible working, Legal news

Leaked government plans to protect the working rights of people operating in the gig economy will help to stop unscrupulous employers from exploiting low-paid workers by stamping out false self-employment. But it is questionable whether this goes far enough. (more…)

November 28, 2018

Generation Z are more motivated by job satisfaction than money

by Sara Bean • Flexible working, News, Technology, Workplace

Generation Z, the latest generation to enter the workforce, are more likely to be motivated by job satisfaction and working for social good than by money, a new report claims According to new research from Huawei, in partnership with Chris Brauer, Director of Innovation at Goldsmiths, University of London, based on responses from 2,000 18-25-year olds’ across the UK, also reveals that a new tribe of working professionals among Gen Z is emerging, the ‘New Working Order’. (more…)

November 28, 2018

New report puts the case for FM contribution to sustainability

by Sara Bean • Environment, Facilities management, News

A new report has been published which argues that FM has the power, and responsibility to contribute towards social, economic and political betterment, but to do so the sector needs to be more explicit in the value it offers. Sustainability in facilities management: A Holistic View’ from Active Workplace Solutions claims to explore sustainability within the built environment, analyses how the facilities management (FM) sector can impact wider environmental, social and economic goals and build a holistic strategic picture of sustainability. (more…)

November 27, 2018

New interior design collective launches in Manchester

by Neil Franklin • Company news, Workplace design

Mix Design Collective in association with Bruntwood, part of Mix Week Manchester, is a brand-new workplace design event that will celebrate the best national and international design products. Created by Mix Group, home to Manchester Headquartered, award winning Mix Interiors magazine and Out There Events, Mix Design Collective will see themed spaces, curated by leading architects and designers including Gensler, Hassell, Faulkner Brown Architects, Incognito, Michael Laird Architects and tp bennett. Heart Space, Health & Wellbeing, Engage, Smart & Connected, New Analogue and Escape will showcase a range of workplace settings incorporating cutting edge design ideas and products. Mix Design Collective is a must attend event and free of charge for those involved in architecture, design, commercial property and construction. Visitors will have access to the design leaders of the future whilst being immersed into the six live working zones.

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November 27, 2018

Meaningful work an important driver of health and wellbeing for men

by Mark Eltringham • News, Wellbeing

Men’s care brand Harry’s has published the findings from their first US Masculinity Report in partnership with University College London psychologist John Barry, co-founder of the male psychology section of the British Psychological Society. The report surveyed 5,000 men aged 18-95 across the US, weighted for race, income, education, sexual orientation and other factors. Respondents were asked about their wellbeing, happiness, confidence, emotional stability, motivation, optimism, and sense of being in control. They were then asked how satisfied they are with their careers, relationships, money, work-life balance, physicality, and mental health. The reports key finding was the strong correlation between wellbeing and meaningful work.

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November 27, 2018

Older workers would like more flexible working opportunities

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, Wellbeing

A survey carried out on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has found that the majority of workers aged over 50 would ‘welcome more flexibility’ in the workplace. The survey, which polled more than 12,000 workers over the age of 50, revealed that 78 percent would like ‘more flexible hours’. A further 73 percent want to see more part-time positions being offered, while 63 percent wish for more training schemes to help them use new technology and gain new skills.

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November 27, 2018

Coworking and creative sectors help boost London office space

by Sara Bean • Cities, Facilities management, News, Property

Take-up of office space in Central London has shown a year-on-year increase of 30 percent, reaching 1.3m sq ft in October, according to CBRE. Take-up was strong from creative firms, representing 18 percent of all deals, including the largest deal of the month which saw McCann Erickson take 146,400 sq ft at 135 Bishopsgate EC2. Flexible office operators took 122,300 sq ft of space during the month, bringing the proportion of take-up represented by the flexible office sector in the last 12 months to 19 percent. The largest flex acquisition in October saw Landmark Spaces acquire 37,800 sq ft at Portman House in the West End. (more…)

November 26, 2018

The meaning of life, the Black Mirror of Beijing, standing desks not a silver bullet and some other stuff

by Mark Eltringham • Features

So, what is the meaning of life? According to a study by Pew, the gold standard US based researchers, it’s spending time with family and friends, reading, listening to music and going for a walk in the open air. Work comes somewhere down the list. Just one-third of the survey’s respondents mentioned their career or job as a source of meaning, and only a quarter cite finances or money. This, it turns out, is not too far off Monty Python’s conclusion in their eponymous film: Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations. That’s that sorted then.

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November 26, 2018

Employee resistance in sharing ideas with teams undermines success

by Sara Bean • Flexible working, News, Workplace

The whole idea of the collaborative workplace is to foster creativity and communication, but new research suggests that sharing ideas with team members is still an uncomfortable prospect for employees. According to new research from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) many employees resist sharing new ideas with teams – even if it means failure. The researchers, Dirk Deichmann of RSM and Michael Jensen of the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, examined the innovation database of a large energy company containing 2,532 ideas submitted over 12 years. They found that employees often develop innovative ideas alone. (more…)

November 26, 2018

Reducing commuting times could drastically reduce CO2 emissions

by Mark Eltringham • Environment, Flexible working, News

A decrease in commuting times in the UK will reduce levels of carbon dioxide by 7.8 million tonnes per year by 2030, according to a new study by Regus. The economic study, carried out by independent researchers, found that if the growth in flexible workspace continues to increase, commuters in the country could save 115 million hours of commuting time per annum by 2030 from a turn to flexible working. Meanwhile, the nation which would see the largest annual carbon emission saving by 2030 is the United States. It is predicted to save nearly 960 million hours in commuting time, and with US commuters relying heavily on cars, this time saved translates to over 100 million tonnes of CO2.