Workplace creation specialists Unispace surveyed over 2,000 senior Real Estate and IT professionals across Europe on the topic of the future of work, and what to expect from the workplace of the near future.

40% of respondents to the Unispace survey expect there to be more technology for remote working in a post-Covid workplace and 34% are expecting to see a new office layout. Just 21% of real estate and IT professionals expect to see rapid testing kits for all staff to be made available for office workers.

Stuart Finnie, Regional Director of Design at Unispace comments:
“Technology is important, but the future of the workplace is focused on putting people first. Tech will be a big draw for new candidates and has an important role to play in connecting those working remotely and creating a workplace that enables employees to be more productive. But decisions about technology in the workplace must be centred on how employees will use and benefit from it, rather than the technology driving these decisions.

“Technology can help businesses achieve goals by enabling more collaborative working and providing us with a wealth of data to help inform preferred workplace strategies, for example, but it does not solve everything. Technology should be viewed as a support rather than the focus, after all, one of the core reasons people want to go back into the office is for face-to-face interactions, which technology cannot replace.”

The future of the office remains the subject of fierce debate. A recent Deloitte poll suggested that the office is still an integral part of people’s working lives, with more than half (58%) of employees aged under 35 who are currently working from home saying that they are finding it challenging.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post More Technology For Remote Working Is Key To The Future Of Work appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Increasing work in the home office offers a variety of opportunities, but also risks. According to a survey among 500 office workers, the vast majority (83 percent) believe that the corona crisis has opened up a new business trend towards more digitalization and home office usage. A clear majority (61 percent) is also in favor of a law establishing a right to work from a home office, as is currently being discussed in Germany.

OTRS Group has put together three tips to keep the workflow in the home office flowing:

1. Selection of suitable communication systems

To keep employee communication in the home office running, communication tools should be carefully selected. In the office, employees communicate in large informal brainstorming sessions, in smaller project groups or in pairs for confidential conversations. It should also be possible to cover these different forms of communication when employees are not sitting together in person.

– Solution for video conferencing: It is important in the flow of communication to be able to observe the facial expressions of a person during a meeting. A tool such as GoToMeeting, which allows all team members to switch on their cameras at the same time, is suitable for this purpose in order to have an efficient group discussion.

– Solution for spontaneous chat: The exchange that takes place during a spontaneous coffee break can sometimes lead to excellent ideas. Therefore, it is important to promote spontaneous chatting between colleagues with appropriate solutions such as RocketChat.

– Brainstorming options: Ideas can also be brainstormed virtually with colored Post-It’s and recorded, so that further creative interactions can take place. How about Miro?

– Online webinars: Further training is an important motivator for employees. Even if the training cannot take place physically, there are still many opportunities for further development: Webinars (often free of charge via LinkedIn) are available, as well as internal training opportunities via video conferencing or online podcasts.

2. Good documentation with automated systems

It is nothing new that orderly and clean documentation is essential in many processes. But when teams are distributed across different locations and are located in different time zones, it is even more essential to document the status quo in writing. Remote work ticket systems like OTRS help to understand what others are working on. For example, an employee who just starts his working day can see the current status of a project while others are still asleep. Misinformation cannot simply be passed on. Company-wide shared calendars also help to view each other’s appointments and keep track of how many employees are currently in the office.

3. Strengthening the corporate culture: virtual offsites

Now that many employees work at different locations, it is even more important to define clear corporate culture in order to create a “we-feeling”. Communicating what management priorities are, where the company stands and what vision it has can be essential for employee motivation. Virtual offsite meetings are a good option, in which employees can talk about the culture and all the issues that concern them without time pressure.

“We find ourselves in an increasingly digitalized world. This leads to many advantages, but also risks; especially when employees work from their homes more often and for longer periods,” says Sabine Riedel, member of the board at OTRS Group and expert for digital transformation. “The provision of tools that support the communication that employees are used to in their daily office routine is an effective measure for maintaining productivity, but also for the long-term successful development of the company.”

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Communication Tips For Working From Distributed Locations appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

British Safety Council calls on Government not to pressurise employers to get workers back into the office. If people can work from home, they should have the choice to work from home: for the sake of people’s health, wellbeing and the economy.

From next week people will be encouraged to go back to their workplaces as part of a government campaign. Its message will be that employers should reassure staff it is safe to return by highlighting measures taken to reduce the spread of Covid-19. This new initiative comes as most schools in England and Wales reopen, relieving thousands of workers from childcare duties and in the face of the damage being done to city centres as people work from home.

Homeworking is still a popular choice. Between 27 July and 9 August, 39% of the workforce of businesses still trading was working remotely, according to the Office for National Statistics. As well as reduced contact at work, home working reduces potential exposure to the virus while traveling to and from work. Last month Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, made the case that given the spread of the virus is dependent on contact, working from home remains an important option and there was no need to change the advice.

Lawrence Waterman, Chair of the British Safety Council expressed his concern: “This new campaign should be more about choice – treating workers as responsible adults who should agree with their employers a sensible balance of work in formal workplaces and home.  For some, with limited space, distractions like noise and/or a desire for contact with colleagues that balance may be struck differently. But it should not be for Government to tell employers or workers what arrangements they should make.

Government should concentrate on getting track and trace to operate effectively and ensuring that HSE inspects any workplace that is involved in a COVID hot-spot.  Only when the Government does its job of providing PPE to health and care workers, tracing all Covid contacts, making sure workplaces are legally compliant, providing consistent advice to schools, properly funding self-isolation, is it entitled to give advice on the home/workplace balance. 

All this noise and confusion suggests that we need an interim, speedy inquiry to learn the obvious lessons before the risk of a winter second wave.”

Since its foundation in 1957, the British Safety Council has campaigned tirelessly to protect workers from accidents, hazards and unsafe conditions, and played a decisive role in the political process that has led to the adoption of landmark safety legislation in the UK. Its members in more than 60 countries are committed to protecting and improving the wellbeing of workers, believing that a healthy and safe work environment is also good for business.

As part of its charitable work, the British Safety Council leads health and safety networking forums for all sectors, facilitates and promotes best practice in Britain and overseas. It also offers a range of services and products, including training, qualifications, publications, audits and awards. The British Safety Council works closely with organisations, charities and individuals who share its vision of ensuring that every worker goes home at the end of the day as healthy as they were when they went to work.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Now Is Not The Time For Unnecessary Trips To The Office, British Safety Council Says appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Social distancing, self-isolation and working from home where possible are just three of the ways governments across the world have said can ultimately help slow the rate of infection of COVID-19. However, in a much different working environment, many employees can find it challenging to maintain BAU while keeping a good work-life balance as well as positive mental health and wellbeing.

With this ‘new norm’ being for the foreseeable future, Matthew Dickason, Global Managing Director at Hays Talent Solutions, has looked at steps employers can take to make lives easier for their team in times of crisis.

Addressing anxiety with aligned leaders via daily huddles and one source of truth

In a constantly changing environment there is no doubt increased anxiety about the future, in terms of both personal- and work-life. Being mindful about this anxiety and showing support for not only staff’s physical well-being but perceptive of any increased mental stress is crucial during these times.

While events continue to unfold, one of the biggest causes of anxiety will be mixed messaging meaning frequent communication is important for any company, so employees are not left uncertain about what to do. It is imperative that a leadership team has only ‘one single source of truth’ for staff to reference in the form of a central intranet page, containing updated policies and information on things like sick leave, quarantine procedures and remote working practices.

Management teams should be in constant communication to share updates on the impact and actions being taken, as well as discussing any updates from official health organisations and government websites. Without this alignment you risk having teams working to different assumptions and making tactical decisions.

Ensure open lines of communications with your employees to unite remote workers

In addition to daily huddles, a clear communication channel and protocol should be set up to allow easier management of teams in various locations. In times of mass remote working employers need to consider frequent communication, not only formal communications such as reporting but also general engagement. To avoid the isolation that can come with working from home, especially for those not used to it, teams should be encouraged to create virtual water-cooler moments as well as their usual daily stand-ups.

Make sure your team are aware of the most important points of contact

While there may be multiple people to contact regarding various things on a normal working day, its vital that your team know the most key people to contact, who will be dedicated to answering specific points. This includes

· Questions on company policies

· General questions about leave, absence and pay

· Resources to support remote working and well-being

As many businesses have had to quickly transition into remote working producing tips, tricks and advice for working from home can also help members of staff adjust to their new way of working.

Sending these out in the form of e-mails, guides and reminders on how to stay active and healthy when working from home, how to get access/make the most of collaboration tools and set up your home office for optimum productivity and well-being are just a few ways to help employees through unsettling times.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post How To Look After Your Team’s Well-Being Whilst Remote Working During COVID-19 appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

UK businesses are being advised to ensure they are ready to accommodate the rise of remote working – or risk being left behind as the digital economy takes off.

The advice follows the publication of a new essential guide to remote working, produced by utilities and communications specialist Glide, which contains new research, predictions and guidance for businesses.

Between 2008 and 2018, there was a 74% increase in the number of people working from their own home, while 68% say they’d like to work flexibly “in a way that is not currently available”.

Remote working has been found to boost employee well-being, help with recruitment and support business expansion, while 77% of workers report that flexibility at work is important to them. So, it’s no surprise that more and more business leaders are racing to incorporate the concept into their workplaces – but there are challenges to being able to facilitate remote working.

Potential obstacles include the risk of workers feeling isolated, with fewer natural opportunities for collaboration, alongside concerns regarding data security, while recent data suggests that 22% of current remote workers struggle to unplug after work, 19% feel lonely and 8% can’t stay motivated.

The new guide aims to tackle common issues associated with remote working, by equipping business owners with the insight they need to build an efficient framework.

James Warner, Managing Director of Glide Business said: “Where people once expected to travel to a place of work, clock in and stay there until eight hours later, employees are demanding more freedom. One of the biggest influencing factors has been the emergence of the digital economy. 

He went on to say that traditionally, companies needed a physical presence to do business, but this is no longer a prerequisite, and many now exist solely to provide online services, or make their money from intangible assets, like software, these changes can include investing in software which allows for online document collaboration, cloud storage, and task management. These changes are making it less essential for employees to be physically present at their place of work in order for their task to be completed but evolving your business to provide this facility for employees isn’t without its challenges.

“It’s crucial that businesses embed a culture that is applicable inside and outside of the physical office, while a secure server, VPN access and a reliable superfast broadband connection are also essential for remote working facilitation,” James Warner concluded.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Remote Working Is Transforming The UK Digital Economy appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Remote working boosts flexibility and productivity among the self-employed, new research by IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) and People Per Hour has found.

The report found that freelancers overwhelmingly viewed remote working positively, with nine out of ten (87%) working remotely at some point in the last year. Self-employed people cited many advantages to remote working. Asked to choose their top three, 55 per cent included the fact that it gave them greater flexibility, 34 per cent said it made them more productive, 43 per cent said it saved them time and 41 per cent said it improved their work-life balance.

Chloé Jepps, IPSE’s Deputy Head of Research, commented: “This research shows what an important advantage remote working is for the self-employed, improving everything from flexibility to productivity.

“Government should strive to ensure this remains a positive way of working for everyone – not only by promoting co-working spaces across the country, but also by guaranteeing reliable broadband and making sure clients understand the needs of their self-employed remote workers.”

The report also found, however, that remote working can pose some challenges for the self-employed. Encouragingly, one in five people said they had not experienced any disadvantages of self-employment. The rest, when asked to name the three top disadvantages, cited difficulties communicating with clients (27%), difficulties getting regular feedback (27%), loneliness (19%), disconnectedness (19%) and not feeling part of the team (26%).

To combat the challenges of remote working, the report recommended:

• Roll out superfast broadband across the UK: 78 per cent said reliable broadband was the most important requirement for remote working. The Government should continue to commit to 100 per cent access to broadband by 2020 and ensure that all parts of the UK – including hard-to-reach areas – have access to super-fast broadband.
• Promote co-working spaces: 76 per cent of people said they had not used a co-working space. Past research, however, has shown that they are one of the most effective ways of combatting isolation and loneliness. Government should promote co-working opportunities and explore ways to incentivise the creation of new co-working spaces.
• Promote more client support: One of the key difficulties with remote working is maintaining effective communications with clients. Government should explore ways to make sure remote workers have access to the networks and communications channels they need to work effectively off-site. They should also be encouraged to better understand the needs of self-employed people and remote workers.

Xenios Thrasyvoulou, founder and CEO of PeoplePerHour, commented: “It is really encouraging to see how remote working is being embraced by the self-employed and the businesses that hire them. Businesses who are open to working with remote workers gives them access to a wider pool of the best talent.

“It is now important for government to help with the infrastructure needed to make this way of work sustainable. Better and faster broadband access as well as better access to shared workspaces would be a good start.”

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Self-employment: Remote Working Boosts Flexibility And Productivity, Says New Research appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.