WORKTECH Academy

🎄✨ As 2024 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on a transformative year in the world of work. At WORKTECH Academy, we’re thrilled to share a standout piece: Jeremy Myerson’s 2024 roundup of commentary, capturing a year of twists, turns, and thought-provoking ideas. From the shifting dynamics of hybrid work to groundbreaking innovations in workplace design and leadership, Jeremy’s columns have challenged conventional thinking and sparked meaningful conversations. This roundup is a chance to revisit his insights and dive deeper into the themes that defined 2024. Find the link to the full 2024 roundup article in the comments below. 🌟 As we close the chapter on 2024, the WORKTECH Academy team would like to thank our members and audience for your incredible engagement this year and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎉 Here’s to continuing the journey together in 2025 with even more collaboration, innovation, and discovery! #WorkplaceInnovation #FutureOfWork

Can design inspire better citizenship? New research from Vienna by Gangl and colleagues, set to be published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in February 2025, suggests that the spaces we work and live in can significantly influence our behaviour, encouraging civility, cooperation, and prosocial acts. 🖼 Nature posters: Nature imagery makes spaces look and feel cleaner, fostering a sense of social order. 💡 Lighting: Bright, warm lighting promotes generosity, trust, and self-control, while dim or cool lighting has the opposite effect. 🪞 Mirrors and awe: Seeing our reflection encourages us to follow social norms. Awe-inspiring designs or biophilic elements like plants can also elevate prosocial behaviours. 🌸 Scent: Even subtle smells like citrus can encourage cleanliness and kindness, while disorganised or cluttered spaces are linked to rule-breaking. 👀 Perception of being watched: Images of eyes can boost prosocial tendencies, a small but powerful nudge toward ethical behaviour. Design isn't just aesthetic—it’s a tool for shaping better communities. By leveraging elements like lighting, scent, mirrors, and organisation, we can create spaces that inspire collaboration, responsibility, and kindness. Find the link to the full article in the comments below. #DesignThinking #WorldofWork #WorkplaceInnovation #CivicDesign

What a year it has been! 🌟 At Worktech Academy, 2024 has been a year of discovery, innovation, and impactful insights. Each of our reports has explored critical trends shaping the future of work. As we prepare to step into 2025, we look back on all the insightful reports we produced throughout 2024: 📖 The World of Work in 2024 – Insights into the big trends that will define the workplace in the year ahead. 📖 Cities on the Frontline of the Future of Work– Examining how urban hubs are transforming in response to new work realities. 📖 Taking Aim at the Office – Addressing common criticisms of the office and offering solutions to improve its value. 📖 Breaking Conventions – Highlighting eight key ideas that are reshaping the future of work as we know it. These reports provide exclusive, research-driven insights that help to understand workplace challenges and identify opportunities for innovation. They’re designed to inspire action, spark ideas, and equip leaders with the knowledge to stay ahead in an ever-changing landscape. Here’s to another exciting year of trends and transformations! Join our vibrant community and gain access to all of our future and previous reports and much more! Find the link in the comments below. #WorktechAcademy #2024Trends #FutureOfWork #Innovation

💡Can a rebrand rewrite a legacy? Jaguar’s bold pivot from tradition to “fearless creativity” has set the industry buzzing. It’s a daring change from its iconic past, but it raises bigger questions about reinvention and challenges us to rethink transformation—whether for brands, workplaces, or even personal careers. True transformation takes more than flashy moves; it requires authenticity, alignment and a clear vision for the future. For companies, that might mean blending heritage with innovation. For workplaces, it’s about evolving spaces to match new ways of working. In its effort to attract a modern, diverse, and eco-conscious audience, Jaguar’s striking rebrand offers valuable insights for office developers and designers aiming to align their workspaces with contemporary values and expectations. But here’s the challenge: where’s the line between necessary innovation and losing touch with your roots? 🚀 Find the full WORKTECH Academy article in the comment section below. #Innovation #BrandStrategy #Transformation #Jaguar #WorldofWork

As we wrap up a fantastic year at WORKTECH Academy, we want to take a moment to thank our incredible community for being part of our journey. From insightful discussions to collaborative events and projects, your support and contributions have made this year unforgettable. 2024 Highlights: 🌟We hosted our first in-person Breakfast Briefing, bringing together thought leaders and the members of our community to explore the future of work. 🌟We held many expert sessions with featured guest speakers and industry pioneers, sparking innovation and new ideas in the world of work. Now, as we look ahead to 2025, we’re thrilled to share our upcoming programme! 📅 Here’s what’s in store each quarter: 📊 Trend Reports – Stay ahead with the latest insights and trends in shaping the workplace. ☕ Breakfast Briefings – Join us for more in-person briefings with inspiring guest speakers and WORKTECH Academy members. 🎓 Expert Sessions – Deep dives into pressing topics with industry leaders. 💡 Innovation Day – A special highlight in Q4, an oppertunity to connect with our community in an in-person interactive workshop! Next year, we’ll continue delivering exciting events and insightful content that explore cutting-edge topics in the world of work. Stay tuned for more details! We’d love to hear your thoughts on the topics you’re most excited about—let’s keep the conversation going! Thank you to all our members for being a part of our vibrant community!   👉 If you are interested in joining our community or would like to find out more about us, visit the link in the comments below #Innovation #FutureOfWork #WorkplaceInsights #Community

🎉The WORKTECH London24 round-up article is now live! From AI-driven co-creation to the evolution of urban planning and healthier office spaces, WORKTECH London24 offered a groundbreaking, evidence-based perspective on workplace transformation. This three-day workplace festival featured many immersive workplace tours, two sector-specific roundtables and global leaders sharing their insights on navigating rapid change at the conference. Key takeaways: ✅ AI isn’t just about coexistence—it’s about collaboration and co-creation, as highlighted by Ajay Chowdhury. ✅ The concept of the 15-Minute City drives sustainability and equity, with lessons from cities like Paris and Melbourne. ✅ The workplace as a product—prototyping and iteration is essential for change management, as emphasised by Mapiq’s Alexa Lightner. ✅ Traditional industries like law and finance are taking incremental steps toward innovation, from adopting AI tools to benchmarking against peers. WORKTECH Academy’s head of research and editorial, Kasia Maynard, co-chaired the event alongside Esme Banks Marr of BVN Architecture and they expertly guided us through the critical discussions. WORKTECH London24 reinforced the importance of blending technology, science, and strategy to create workplaces that inspire and empower. How can organisations best adapt to emerging trends while maintaining a strong focus on their people and culture?🚀 Find the full WORKTECH Academy article in the comment section below. #WorkplaceInnovation #FutureOfWork #WORKTECHLondon #AI #Leadership

Is the Return to Office Debate More Complex Than Ever? More and more companies are starting to direct their people back into the office as employers try to revive and boost the culture and collaboration in the workplace. But not everything is so sweet. As more companies push for in-office work, the tension between flexibility and business needs is growing and the two business stories from the UK are the perfect examples: 👉 Starling Bank mandates 10 office days/month, sparking employee backlash over culture and desk shortages. 👉 Asda requires 3 days/week but is easing the transition with upgraded office spaces, aligning HQ staff with frontline workers. It's evident that flexible working will continue to be sacrificed for corporate profitability. Stanford University’s researcher Nick Bloom warns organisations that a strict return-to-office mandate could create a less diverse and inclusive workforce. The big question remains: Can businesses strike the right balance between operational needs and employee flexibility—or are we risking a one-size-fits-all approach? Find the full WORKTECH Academy article in the comments section below. #hybridwork #worldofwork #futureofwork

🖥️Should we keep the adoption of unassigned seating in the office? According to new research by Leesman, the adoption of unassigned seating has surged by 20 per cent in the office workplace over the past four years. As hybrid working and flexible arrangements are on the rise, the unassigned seating trend is also rising. Leesman’s report, ‘The Value of Variety,’ explores how assigned versus unassigned seating affects employee experience. This report is based on global data from 1,591 workplaces and more than 400,00 offices and home workers. This study revealed that 87 per cent of respondents are working in a hybrid model. This shift has encouraged many organisations to rethink their real estate strategies. In order to optimise the office design for productivity, Leesman's research identified the key factors to consider: 🪑Know your workforce. 🪑Challenge assumptions. 🪑Beware of bad implementation. As workplaces evolve, the focus must shift from simple cost-cutting measures to creating spaces that genuinely support diverse working styles and foster a positive employee experience. Find the link to the full article and the Leesman report in the comments. #worldofwork #hybridwork #workplace

🏢The world of work has been under a shake-up. The past few years have brought many unpredicted disruptions in the workplace landscape, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the fast technological developments in AI; society has been forced to reconsider not just how we work but where. The new research study ‘The Where of Work’, conducted by Dr. Agustin Chevez from the University of Melbourne, explores this landscape. It analyses the intricate dynamics shaping the financing, design, delivery, and use of workplaces, viewed through the perspectives of various stakeholders. Chevez introduced the Rubik’s Cube analogy for the workplace, emphasising the interplay between the different stakeholders, such as: 🟦Employees prioritise flexibility and personal well-being. 🟥Organisations focus on space efficiency and cost management. 🟩Developers aim to ensure commercial relevance and market appeal. As each stakeholder focuses on solving their side of the Rubik's Cube that directly affects their objectives, they simultaneously impact the objectives of others. How can we solve the workplace puzzle together?🧩 Find the link to the research report and full @WORKTECH Academy article in the comments. #worldofwork #innovation

And that’s a wrap!🎉 The WORKTECH24 London Special Edition is now concluded, and WORKTECH Academy had a blast. Thank you to WORKTECH for such a knowledge-filled three-day work festival! This event lasted three days, starting with tours of the Zoom building and insightful conversations at the Legal Roundtable chaired by Kasia Maynard, head of research and editorial of WORKTECH Academy, hosted by Burges Salmon LLP in their newly refurbished offices. The second day started at the Financial Roundtable, hosted by Convene. We then had the chance to tour some of London's most innovative office buildings, including the brand-new GSK HQ, 22 Bishopsgate building, and Meta. The three-day workplace festival concluded with a day-long conference at Convene, with WORKTECH Academy's head of research and editorial, Kasia Maynard, co-chairing the conference. Packed with insights and innovation, we discovered how businesses push the boundaries of workplace design, culture, and technology. The conference's overarching theme consisted of three main areas that the future workplace must deliver: Productivity, Connectivity, and Community. It’s about more than just bringing people together—it’s about fostering collaboration, embracing mentorship, and creating environments where innovation thrives. The day ended with laughter and engagement during Mock the Workplace, courtesy of the Workplace Geeks podcast. Was great to gain more insights and knowledge from all the inspiring speakers; Workplace Geeks, UnWork, Cordless Consultants, SwiftConnect, Thames Water, Vodafone, PointGrab, Simmtronic, Verkada, Smartspaces, Disruptive Technologies, nhance, Mapiq, and Booking.com. #worldofwork #futureofwork #innovation #technology #design