This site uses cookies to improve your experience. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country, we will assume you are from the United States. Select your Cookie Settings or view our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Used for the proper function of the website
Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Strictly Necessary: Used for the proper function of the website
Performance/Analytics: Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Balancing collaborative and focused workspaces helps meet diverse employee needs, improving productivity and creativity. As people step back into the office increasingly due to new policies, companies must evolve their space to meet employee needs holistically not only to motivate them to return but to attract and retain talent.
At first glance, some workplace trends for 2025 appear to be contradictorynamely the continued expansion of return to office policies combined with a growing interest in employee mental health. In a McKinsey survey from 2021, one-third of respondents reported that returning to the office negatively affected their mental health.
Technologys role in enhancing collaboration and enabling more flexible work environments will directly support better work-life balance. By automating routine tasks and enhancing productivity, Cohen points out that AI allows employees to work less, prioritize mental health, and have more time for personal pursuits.
Department of Labor is among the agencies navigating this terrain, with policies that increasingly pull workers back to the office. Beyond safeguarding public health, it revealed unexpected benefits: increased productivity, reduced costs, and greater work-life balance/employee satisfaction.
The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that employers must provide reasonable accommodations — which could include remote work — for employees with disabilities, including mental health conditions. Employers must engage in a cooperative process with employees who request accommodations for mental health conditions,” says Sonderling. “If
Engaging in fauxductivity can undermine trust, cohesion, and collaboration — culminating in a toxic environment where “busywork” is valued over innovation and creativity. This practice can erode trust, cohesion, and collaboration — creating a toxic environment where “busywork” is rewarded while innovation and creativity are stifled.
Mental Health Awareness,? Employers need to maintain a continuous focus on the psychological health of their employees in order to thrive as business entities. . Allwork.Space spoke to psychologist and mental health advocate, Bill Howatt, Ph.D., Random acts of wellness will not curb the mental health crisis. .
Office design can support these needs with flexible spaces for in-person training and group meetings, experiential spaces to draw in people of all generations, and social hubs to foster conversation and community, all supported by thoughtful policies.
There are barriers for specific minority groups to access mental health support in the workplace. Personalized mental health support is a solution to improving mental health outcomes at work, but this requires training, understanding, and insight into individual needs. According to Mental Health U.K., In the U.K.,
“Since doing that, we’ve become so much more productive, our team is bonding, we’re creating better work, we’re collaborating better, and they tell me every week how much they value it. Lack of access to affordable mental health services is regarded as a major barrier to their well-being. So, what’s the winning combination?
They were the first countries to provide this kind of policy. While there are advocates in the U.K. It’s reported that t he government’s concern stems from the high increase in health-related work absences post-pandemic, with the number of economically inactive individuals rising from 2 million to 2.8 million.
Employee Resource Groups should be actively involved in shaping return-to-office policies, ensuring they meet the distinct needs of various demographics within the workforce and maintaining inclusivity. Upcoming Seramount research through the CDO Collaborative focuses on generational differences in the workplace.
From benefit packages to company policies, required time off through financial incentivization is not a new practice, but it could become a new normal. Some companies are already doing this through benefit packages or company policies that require a certain number of days off per year.
Microdosing expert Peggy Van de Plassche transitioned from finance and tech to psychedelics, driven by a massive market growth potential alongside personal mental health experiences. Her journey with psychedelics began as a quest for mental health improvement. I used to do 8 hours, which was more like 10 hours…let’s be honest.
But in-person collaboration is still important: Will your company expect you to occasionally visit the office, and will they pay for travel? Examine the fine print on your health care policy Go over your health care policy and ask about coverage. As for your customers?
Constant digital interruptions lead to task-switching, which diminishes concentration and raises stress levels; while silencing notifications helps individuals maintain better mental health, achieve clearer focus, and improve overall work performance.
During Mental Health Awareness month, RSP’s Kari Smith discusses how the right workplace strategy can support wellbeing at work and help people thrive. May is Mental Health Awareness month. Flexible schedules, hybrid work models, health and wellbeing-focused office environments, and hiring frenzies are just a few.
Successful implementation of flexible work requires adaptive leadership, thoughtful policy-making to ensure equity across different roles, and innovative strategies to foster a sense of community and belonging within remote teams. Dr. LaRoche adds a practical perspective, focusing on the tangible benefits of reduced commuting.
Born from the necessity of a health crisis and enabled by better technology, its outcomes have been transformative. The proportion of in-office versus remote work can vary based on the organization’s policies and the employee’s role or preferences. For employers, the strategies to support a hybrid model include: 1.Provide
While enabling greater flexibility, this dispersal of work also risks fracturing company culture, stunting collaboration, and isolating employees. ” Stunted Collaboration: “Creativity suffers without spontaneous in-person brainstorming and bonding,” noted León. “Relationship building erodes over time.
The reality that health is on the line brings up the question of whether remote work is simply a benefit…or if it should it be a right? . At Gloat, we believe that there are key advantages to in-person collaboration. Companies should take this case by case to ensure overall company culture and productivity.” .
It is essential to gather baseline quantitative and qualitative data for each metric, including employee surveys and focus group interviews, to inform decision-making before establishing a permanent hybrid work policy. Each of these metrics should be measured before establishing a permanent hybrid work policy, to get a baseline.
Managers need to be better listeners, coaches and collaborators,” Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, wrote in the report. . That workers in Australia and New Zealand have better financial health than those in East Asia. . Managers need to be better listeners, coaches, and collaborators,” Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, wrote in the report.
Specialized spaces within coworking environments are trending, providing tailored amenities and designs for niche industries to foster creativity and collaboration. Imagine a community where creativity flows freely, where expertise is revered, and where collaboration fuels innovation. What sets these businesses apart?
RSP’s Kelsey Sullivan explains how designing offices and policies for Gen Z will positively impact workers of every generation. They expect transparency with policies, assignments and salaries. So far, most of the things I’ve detailed relate to policy and culture. They are open communicators with both managers and peers.
The Future of Work: Dog-Friendly Companies” indicates that pet-friendly policies may be key to attracting and retaining top talent. . Nearly three-quarters of pet parents feel more loyal to companies with pet-friendly policies. 74% of pet parents feel more loyal to companies with pet-friendly policies . Study highlights: .
Leaders should evaluate team engagement, productivity, and dynamics to determine the need for a retreat, considering goals like strategic alignment, morale boost, and enhanced collaboration. They enable employees to see a different, more human side of their colleagues. Employee burnout is a serious issue, with 77% of workers experiencing it.
Rather than viewing their workplaces simply as a cost center, progressive companies have begun to view the office as an important business tool that can provide peak human experiences, enable “magical moments of collaboration” and meet the employee desire for a greater sense of purpose and belonging to an organization.
The future of work is a lot of things: hybrid and remote work, mental health-focused and less office reliant. In fact, just 19% of companies have expanded their collaborative spaces even though teamwork is cited as the top reason for workers to be in the office. .
Peer-reviewed research paints an even more sinister picture, with commuting times linked to diminished job satisfaction, escalating stress, and declining mental health. These subtle indicators play a significant role during intense collaborations. There is no necessity for employees to trek to the office for such activities.
The argument that remote and hybrid work harm productivity, collaboration, and culture has been debunked by data. While a lack of “crackle” might not justify a return-to-office policy, the toll on mental health certainly does. We all need each other, and we need the workplace of the future — it’s time to embrace both.”
Experts suggest prioritizing collaboration and active listening to reduce conflict , alongside understanding and adapting to colleagues’ communication styles (work language). Avoid topics such as religion, race, identity politics and personal struggles (finances, relationships, health). Diplomacy in interactions is also crucial.
This article was written by Alexis Dennis-Huether of The S/L/A/M Collaborative for Work Design Magazine. This trend begs a larger question of what the purpose of the office is and how organizations can better align flexible work policies with business goals. Organizations need help to communicate the value of the office today.
Companies are focusing on creating workspaces that provide comfort, flexibility, and a sense of community to compete with the convenience of remote work and encourage in-person collaboration. A thriving workplace provides a space to gather, connect, collaborate, and innovate.
Are companies adjusting their policies? By aligning organizational values with actionable policies, business leaders can create inclusive environments that enhance workplace experiences and increase employee satisfaction. This gap underscores the need for businesses to integrate DEI principles into organizational policies.
AI-driven applications reduce the need for physical office spaces, making remote work a breeze by facilitating instant access to relevant data and documents, streamlining communication channels for optimal collaboration, and providing intelligent recommendations for meetings, resources, and priorities.
searched through geotagged tweets to see exactly how hybrid workers are taking to these new work policies. . This includes investing into home office solutions, using collaborative software like Asana and Slack and, perhaps most importantly, creating a hybrid work policy that is easy to comprehend, specific and detailed. .
Even though the pandemic “ended,” there still seems to be two polarized views on the Work From Home (WFH) policy. Without the benefit of people looking over your shoulder and the ability to brainstorm directly with your peers, there is a massive void in terms of collaboration. Then there’s the human cost of working from home.
Healthy spaces compliment supportive policies to enrich workplace environments and help nurture employees’ health, happiness, and overall well being. There was a real mental health decline that developed alongside the extended isolation of lockdown. Healthy Healthy environments are becoming an expectation among the workforce.
Despite this, many corporate leaders are struggling with how to lure workers back to the office by combining mandatory attendance policies with perks like snacks and company-provided lunches, citing collaboration, innovation and networking as the need for in-office days. Creating Spaces that Support Culture.
Focus, collaboration and socializing should be at the heart of the design. Wellness and Sustainability 80% of Gen Z is looking for companies that implement policies rather than just talking the talk. Gen Z also wants more collaborative and meaningful work. Personio, Amsterdam by M Moser Associates 3.
Employers should encourage a healthy communication culture by promoting email mindfulness, implementing Right to Disconnect policies, and recommending regular digital detoxes among staff. Implement the “Right to Disconnect” Adopt policies that enable employees to “ switch off ” after work hours.
These can help with project management, collaboration, time management, finding accommodation, searching for cheap flights, or doing rapid translations. One of the most notable policy changes for the country is the validity extension of its digital nomad visas. Previously, the country’s specialized visas were valid for 60 days.
And, a study conducted by Scoop in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group indicates that companies whose employees have the option to work in-office or remotely have demonstrated a 16-percentage-point advantage in revenue growth over the last three years, as opposed to companies with more rigid policies.
We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 208,000+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.
You know about us, now we want to get to know you!
Let's personalize your content
Let's get even more personalized
We recognize your account from another site in our network, please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.
Let's personalize your content