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News/Articles (Latest November 2024)
18 Worst Disadvantages of Remote Work That You Shouldn’t Overlook
Every Brit can agree that the transition to remote work since COVID-19 has been transformative. Many companies now offer employees the chance to work from home or adopt a hybrid model, where they visit the office only a few days a week. Although there are advantages to working remotely, it hasn't been entirely beneficial for society as a whole. Here are 18 reasons as to why that's the case.
Gender Gap: This is the state of work for women in 2024
Gender Representation and Advancement: The World Economic Forum's report notes that women make up 42% of the global workforce but only 31.7% of senior leadership roles. The gap is particularly pronounced in STEM fields, where women constitute only 28.2% of the workforce. Despite some advances in female representation in sectors like AI, systemic barriers remain, limiting access to top positions
Supporting mental health at work: Guide for people managers
This guide contains information, practical advice and conversation checklists for managers to better support those experiencing stress and mental health issues. The guide addresses all aspects of employment, from recruitment, managing mental health at work, to supporting return to work after a period of absence. It will help managers facilitate conversations and put in place support so employees can stay well and in work – meaning better performance and improved retention of talent and expertise. The guide also sets out the practical steps that employers can take to create a mentally healthy workplace. (August 2024)
Working from home UK statistics 2024
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52% of business leaders surveyed believe that hybrid working is the most supportive environment for employee productivity
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47% of female office workers and 44% of male office workers believe hybrid working is better for their mental health
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53% of business leaders believe hybrid working helps employees better manage the costs associated with work
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82% of men and women believe their employer now has a greater responsibility to offer health and wellbeing support post-pandemi
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98% of employers have implemented a measure (like work socials, on-site gym access etc.) to encourage employees to come back to the office
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35% of employed people surveyed did at least some remote work in 2023, continuing the same trend in 2022, where 34% of respondents did some remote work in the US
Working from home doesn’t have much of a difference on productivity, but those who did work from home or hybrid workers record a happier work-life balance than those who don’t, with their retention rate improving by 35% (july 2024)
A WFH ‘culture war’ has broken out across Europe, with the U.K. leading the charge as the most WFH-friendly country, while France lags behind
The U.K. leads Europe in the home-working league table, according to the Global Survey of Working Arrangements (G-SWA), an authoritative annual study by leading economists into the behaviors and preferences of over 40,000 workers in 34 countries. In fact, the average British employee with a graduate education spends twice as much time working remotely as their French counterparts—and three times more than those who are Greek. Countries that have actively targeted remote working foreign “digital nomads,” like Portugal and Italy, meanwhile, have middling levels. (July 2024)
The Future of Work: A trends forecast for 2024
Hybrid working – a phenomenon empowered by significant advances in technology – is an inescapable megatrend that’s changing lives, allowing many millions of people around the world to work how and where they feel most fulfilled and most productive. And it’s a shift that’s set to continue: ongoing academic research by Stanford University and other leading institutes has predicted that between a third and a half of white-collar workers will continue to work in a hybrid way in the long term. (February 2024)
Lonely at work? What to do when feeling isolated
Feeling part of a strong workplace culture can improve an employee's productivity, boost their engagement within a role and increase morale. But new insights from Glassdoor's Economic Research Team found that discussion around employee loneliness has jumped 11%* since working from home guidance was scrapped in January 2022 - creeping up to the highest levels since the first national lockdown in March 2020. Moreover, employees are struggling to build meaningful connections at work, with positive mentions of ‘social life’ decreasing 39% since 2020.
Teleworking Effects on Mental Health—A Systematic Review and a Research Agenda
Teleworking has become an increasingly adopted modality in organizations. However, changes in working conditions have led to several challenges regarding its impacts on professionals’ health. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review of the literature about the impact of teleworking on workers’ mental health. This study offers a prominent and promising framework regarding the teleworking impact on workers’ health research agenda. (April 2024)
The Hybrid Talent Magnet
"HR professionals view hybrid working as not only key to staying ahead in the race for talent, but also an integral part of a winning business strategy that has the wellbeing and productivity of a company’s employees at its core. Our research reinforces the fact that today’s workforce demands flexibility from their employers and at the same time companies are increasingly appreciating the many benefits of the hybrid model.” Mark Dixon, Founder and CEO, IW
2023 Expert Survey on Progress in AI
In the largest survey of its kind, we surveyed 2,778 researchers who had published in top-tier artificial intelligence (AI) venues, asking for their predictions on the pace of AI progress and the nature andimpacts of advanced AI systems. If science continues undisrupted,the chance of unaided machines outperforming humans in every possible task was estimated at 10% by 2027, and 50% by 2047. The latter estimate is 13 years earlier than that reached in a similarsurvey we conducted only one year earlier [Grace et al., 2022]. However, the chance of all human occupations becoming fully automatable was forecast to reach 10% by 2037, and 50% as late as 2116 (compared to 2164 in the 2022 survey). (January 2024)
How women benefit from hybrid working
In the last few years, many businesses have adopted a flexible approach – one where employees split their time between working from home and the office. It’s been highly beneficial for a number of reasons, but women – especially those in minority groups – have really reaped the rewards. We spoke to over 1000 women and found that:
53% feel empowered to apply for more senior roles
66% say flexible working has opened up new opportunities
44% feel hybrid working has improved their efficiency
32% of women in minority groups feel more seen by senior leadership
(March 2024)
Workplace Recovery
Workplace recovery has long played an important role for businesses, enabling them to stay productive during a crisis. With the overwhelming majority of businesses now working in a hybrid way, strategic planning needs to shift to meet the needs of increasingly distributed teams.IWG's latest white paper shows what workplace recovery looks like alongside the hybrid model – and how you can plan now to protect your reputation, relationships and revenue. (February 2024)
What monitoring measures are acceptable when managing remote workers?
A growth in hybrid working means bosses with hybrid teams, who previously only managed people onsite, would also need to learn how to manage remote workers. Their organisation’s productivity and culture are at risk if their people can’t adapt to connecting and collaborating when they’re not physically in the same space. Attempts to monitor those working remotely might backfire if people feel it’s unnecessary or intrusive. So, what do bosses think are acceptable ways of managing workers who work remotely, particularly those working on laptops or other electronic devices? What is practised in various organisations? Are there differences in opinion by management level, industry and so on? (February 2024)
Your boss thinks you just don’t work as hard at home.
You might think you’re working harder than ever from home—but it’s unlikely your boss agrees with you.That’s what Microsoft deduced from a major new survey that had 20,000 respondents across 11 countries, including the U.S., India, China, the U.K., and Germany. The survey results revealed that despite the fact that people were working more than ever, leaders were still “questioning if their employees are being productive.” While 87% of employees reported being productive at work, 85% of leaders said the shift to hybrid work made it difficult to have confidence in workers’ productivity. Just 12% of leaders said they had full confidence that their team was productive. (April 2024)
These are the annoying co-worker behaviours that make us avoid going into the office
Teleworking has become an increasingly adopted modality in organizations. However, changes in working conditions have led to several challenges regarding its impacts on professionals’ health. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review of the literature about the impact of teleworking on workers’ mental health. This study offers a prominent and promising framework regarding the teleworking impact on workers’ health research agenda. (April 2024)
The Hybrid Cost Saver
Hybrid working creates significant cost savings for organisations during difficult economic times. This is the message that comes loud and clear from IWG’s latest survey of leading Chief Financial Officers, with more than four-fifths saying that hybrid is a leading way to meet savings targets in their business. (March 2024)
The office is for socializing: how work from home has revolutionized work
Even as some firms are mandating workers come into the office, work from home has permanently changed the work landscape. According to Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford economics professor and a longtime researcher of working from home for workers who can do at least part of their job from home, WFH is here to stay and is being reinforced by some major changes in the work landscape. (August 23)
Workers are commuting less. How are they spending that extra time?
According to a study from Stanford University, Americans have saved 60 million hours per day on commuting since the pandemic, a trend that is reflected worldwide. In the UK alone, remote working saved employees over 8 billion hours in 2022. This reduction in commuting is great news for workers' finances — data highlighted in this IWG white paper reveals that, in 2019, US commuters lost an average of $1,377 sitting in traffic congestion. But the benefits aren’t simply monetary; it’s having a positive impact on their health and well-being too. And the reason fewer of us are crowding onto a packed train at rush hour? Hybrid working. (August 2023)
Beyond 9-5: why the four-day week works.
Traditional work structures are facing a dramatic overhaul. Earlier this year, the results from the world’s largest experiment with a four-day workweek were unveiled. The UK-based trial received a resounding thumbs up from both businesses and employees, with 56 out of 61 participating companies continuing the revised work schedule beyond the testing period. The trial's success reinforces what IWG research has emphasised for years – that newer, flexible work models can significantly boost people's wellbeing, profit margins, and our planet's health. (August 2023)
UK Code of Practice on handling requests for flexible working
The aim of the Code is to provide employers, employees and representatives with a clear explanation of the law on the statutory right to request flexible working, alongside good practice advice on handling requests in a reasonable manner. The evidence on flexible working is clear: flexible working can bring a wide range of positive outcomes to both businesses and individuals. And there has been a significant change in perceptions of flexible working globally, due in part to ways of working changing during and since the covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. (July 2023)
Why exercise should be part of your business strategy
These findings echo research by IWG, which shows that hybrid workers – those who split their time between a company HQ, local workspaces, and home – are often healthier, happier, and more productive. With less time spent on commuting, there's more time for activities like jogging, walking, cycling, or hitting the gym. Plus, with flexible workspaces often closer to home, they might even get to walk or cycle to work, adding further exercise to their daily commute. (July 23)
3 Surprising Health Risks of Working from Home
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people around the world are working remotely. While the measure has been critical to helping control the spread of the virus, it hasn't come without compromise. As the number of people working from home has increased, healthcare providers have seen a rise in work-related injuries that are unique to the home environment. (February 2024)
Hybrid working can reduce urban carbon emissions by a staggering 70%
Landmark report reveals hybrid working can reduce urban carbon emissions by a staggering 70% in the UK and up to 87% in the US. New research by IWG and Arup into work-related carbon emissions vividly demonstrates the environmental benefits of the hybrid model and how it offers the possibility of a cleaner, brighter future. Six cities across the UK and US were examined for the report including London, Manchester and Glasgow, as well as Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York City.
Flexible and hybrid working practices in 2023
While our research showed an increase in requests for flexible and hybrid working, and that three-fifths of employers already offer this, we also found that there’s unmet demand for varying types of flexible working. Considering that 6% of employees changed jobs last year due to a lack of options – and 12% left their profession/sector altogether – it is essential for employers to increase both formal and informal flexible working arrangements to improve staff retention and attract the best talent.
How coaching can help in a hybrid, virtual world of work
Coaching can help in a hybrid, virtual world of work with workplace performance, the health and wellbeing of employees and even lifestyle choices and relationships.The world of work has undergone massive changes in recent years, driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, the rise of hybrid working conditions and the rapid adoption of technology.
5 research-backed ways hybrid supports your business's sustainability goals
Hybrid has the power to advance your business's sustainability agenda. Here are five ways this flexible model contributes to your environmental, social and governance objectives and fosters a greener, more responsible work environment.
Remote Work Statistics And Trends In 2024
Hybrid working – a phenomenon empowered by significant advances in technology – is an inescapable megatrend that’s changing lives, allowing many millions of people around the world to work how and where they feel most fulfilled and most productive. And it’s a shift that’s set to continue: ongoing academic research by Stanford University and other leading institutes has predicted that between a third and a half of white-collar workers will continue to work in a hybrid way in the long term. (February 2024)
Study reveals hybrid workers are exercising more, sleeping longer and eating better
A new study has revealed that hybrid working is leading to a healthier workforce, with more time being dedicated to exercise, sleep and healthy eating. Research among more than 2,000 hybrid workers by IWG, the world’s leading operator of flexible workspaces, reveals that the time saved by reduced commuting has led to multiple health and wellbeing benefits including weight loss, better cooking habits, improved mental health and a longer night’s sleep.