agenda
Furniture company Steelcase is encouraging
office designers to consider the three
brain modes used by office workers –
focus, activation and regeneration – when
designing their offices.
Steelcase claims the average office worker
is interrupted or distracted every three minutes
and that, once interrupted, it takes 23 minutes
for them to return to what they were doing.
Yet, 49% of office workers say they are unable
to find a space where they can concentrate.
Technology is a particular problem, with
e-mail being checked 30 times an hour and
smartphones being picked up 221 times a day.
Steelcase advises businesses to:
n
Design for focus:
Sheltered micro-
environments and enclosed enclaves minimise
distractions and allow users to control external
stimuli and sound, lighting and temperature;
n
Design for regeneration and inspiration:
Calming, comfortable places where workers
can ‘get away without going away’ are an
investment in well-being and productivity,
while cafes and hubs aid inspiration and
communication;
n
Design for activity:
Physical activity
stimulates the brain, whether micro-
movements, such as stretching or standing up,
or macro movements, such as taking the stairs
instead of the lift.
Spaces for brains
Zero-hours workers as happy full-time staff
Employees on zero-hours contracts experience similar levels of job satisfaction, work-life
balance and personal well-being as employees on permanent, full-time contracts, claims
the CIPD.
Drawing on data from a number of labour force surveys, the professional body for HR and
people development has calculated that 65% of zero-hours employees are either ‘very satisfied’
or ‘satisfied’ with their jobs, compared to 63% for all employees.
Zero-hours workers are more likely to say they have the right work-life balance (62% vs. 58%
for all employees) and are less likely to feel under excessive pressure at work every day or at
least once or twice a week (32% vs. 41% for all employees).
The CIPD estimates that the number of people on zero-hours contracts has increased from
1 million in 2013 to 1.3 million in 2015.
Get moving
Headset company Plantronics has created a
series of desk-based exercises in association
with fitness blogger Faya Nilsson, as new
research shows that physical inactivity is
causing British workers to pile on the pounds.
In a survey of 1,000 office workers, 57%
cited gaining weight from sitting down all day
as their number one concern. In the last 12
months, survey respondents have put on an
average of half a stone, with one in five (19%)
gaining a stone or more.
Overall, 68% think spending all day sitting
at a desk is having a detrimental effect on their
physical and/or emotional health. Almost three-
quarters (73%) say they only get up to go to
the toilet or make a cup of tea.
New approach needed
for well-being
Despite awareness of the importance of
health and well-being in the workplace,
the reactive attitude of UK employers is
threatening workers’ health and productivity,
the CIPD warns in a new report,
Growing
the health and well-being agenda: From first
steps to full potential
.
The report states that 61% of employers
are reactive rather than proactive in their
approach to well-being, with 57% taking
well-being into account when making business
decisions either ‘not at all’ or ‘only to a little
extent’. Just 8% have a standalone well-being
strategy that supports the wider organisational
strategy.
Teachers want bigger role in tech decisions
Teachers are demanding a greater role in the choice of classroom
technology. In a survey of 8,000 teachers by digital education
company TES Global, 59% said they should be the primary
decision-maker. However, in practice just 36% are consulted on
classroom technology needs.
Rob Grimshaw, CEO of TES Global, said: “Teachers are closest
to the needs and behaviour of students, so it’s not surprising they
want to have a seat at the table. Education tech companies, school
leadership and officials must find more ways to let teachers voice
their opinions, so that only the best and most effective technology
makes it to the classroom.”
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