Another week, another ‘Wave’ ???

5 news items from the world of work and workplace that you can digest in 5 minutes.

This week:

1. Algorithm to solve U.S. empty office space crisis
2. Flexible working is ‘no longer stigmatized and helps productivity’
3. Whilst Millennials are the largest workforce, remote work isn’t going anywhere

Solving the Crisis: Meet the guy whose algorithm could solve the crisis of America's empty office space, reports Insider. Architect Steven Paynter has helped figure out a faster way to see if empty offices can be turned into housing with an algorithm that shrinks the survey process from months to hours, and will help conversions to be enacted on a mass scale. C-suites and banks are coming to Paynter saying, "we have this building that's worth $100 million, and we don't know what to do." Converting offices into apartments could help bring people back to downtowns as renters or homeowners, rather than commuters. Read Full Article.

Return to Office: 华特迪士尼公司 CEO, Bob Iger tells staff to return to office four days a week, reports The Guardian . Employees who are working from home have been asked to return ‘Monday through Thursday for in-person workdays’ from the start of March. “As you’ve heard me say many times, creativity is the heart and soul of who we are and what we do at Disney,” said Iger. “And in a creative business like ours, nothing can replace the ability to connect, observe and create with peers that comes from being physically together, nor the opportunity to grow professionally by learning from leaders and mentors.” Can creatives productively connect remotely? Read Full Article.

Breaking Down Stigmas: Flexible working is “no longer stigmatized and helps productivity” according to a recent UK study. 3/4 managers think flexibility improves productivity, while just over 60% believe it boosts motivation, said the 英国伯明翰大学 report. However, results showed that managers were more positive about certain types of flexible working than others. Home working and flexitime - which have both become more common since the pandemic - went down well. But other types of flexible working were not looked on so favorably, including types that benefit parents, such as job shares, part-time work or compressed hours. Read Full Article.

We Want Balance: Flexible working and work-life balance are the most important features of new job roles, reports Workplace Insight . 33% of employees say the most important factor when contemplating a new job, after pay, is work-life balance. The survey suggests that the extent to which employees are satisfied with their work-life balance has been improving over the last three years. 59% rate their work-life balance as good, a 5% increase since last year and a 7% increase from 2021, and 83% of employees say their work-life balance has either stayed the same or increased over the last 12 months. It’s safe to say that employee satisfaction scores are growing and continue to increase with hybrid working. Read Full Article.

Remote Work in 2023: What’s the future of remote work in 2023? Owl Labs findings show those WFH were 47% more productive, spent 10 minutes less per day being unproductive and worked one more day a week. But why? Office workers reported higher figures than remote workers in office politics distracting their workflow, and interruptions from colleagues and the daily commute affecting their productivity. In 2022, Millennials were the largest generation in the workforce, and most want remote work to continue and won’t even consider a job if it doesn’t offer at least a little remote work. As long as Millennials are the largest workforce, remote work isn’t going anywhere, so companies should be ready to adapt in 2023 and beyond. Read Full Article.

And one bonus article this week from yours truly, inspired by my predictions-focussed Wave last week:

Workplace 2024: Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could see into the future? If the last three years are anything to go by, the future of work is fluid and can change rapidly. Here some of the best in the business share their “Postcard from the future”, stating what they expect or would hope to see 12 months from today.?Read Full Article.