Latest news with #office
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Offices have 'no legal requirement' to keep you cool as temperatures reach 33C
The UK has been plunged into a heatwave with temperatures racing past 30C in most parts of the country. Sadly, this has happened on a Friday, meaning millions of Brits are stuck in the office, looking through the window, and counting down to 5pm. In the meantime, for anyone lamenting the fact there's no air con in the office, employers are under no legal obligation to keep office temperatures below a certain level. Read more: Millions of UK households told to spend £49 before end of Friday In fact, the law only requires workplaces to maintain a 'reasonable' temperature – a vague standard set out in the Workplace Regulations 1992. While 16°C is widely considered the lower limit for a comfortable office, there's no official upper limit – meaning bosses aren't breaking the law if staff are left melting at their desks. Psychologist Darren Stanton, who said: 'People's reactions to the weather are often driven by light levels, which directly impact our mood. "Sunlight boosts the production of serotonin – the feel-good hormone – but excessive heat can have the opposite effect, leading to irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and brain fog.' 'In hot weather, it's common for motivation and energy levels to drop. To stay mentally balanced, it's important to stay hydrated, use fans or cooling devices, and take regular breaks, ideally stepping outside for fresh air or shade. "Maintaining a routine and staying socially connected can also help ease extreme heat's emotional and physical strain.' Richard Smith, founder and CEO of Office Freedom, added: 'When the mercury rises, employers need to think beyond the legal bare minimum. No one should be expected to sit through a heatwave in an office that feels like a sauna.' 'Simple things like ensuring good ventilation, offering cold drinks, and letting people adjust their hours can make a huge difference. If staff are too hot, they're uncomfortable, unproductive, and at risk of heat-related stress — that's bad for them and bad for business.' It comes as the Met Office has issued a 13-hour thunderstorm warning as the UK heatwave ends with a horror blast of rain. The Met Office says: "Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures. There is a small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads. "There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost. "There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds. "Where lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services."
South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Chinese man builds 300 creative, multifunctional cars inspired by childhood dreams
A man in China has created more than 300 innovative and multifunctional vehicles – including a 'bed car' that climbs stairs and an 'office desk vehicle' that allows users to work from anywhere.
Fast Company
7 hours ago
- Science
- Fast Company
Workplace mistreatment may affect observers as strongly as victims
Picture this: On your way out of the office, you notice a manager berating an employee. You assume the worker made some sort of mistake, but the manager's behavior seems unprofessional. Later, as you're preparing dinner, is the scene still weighing on you—or is it out of sight, out of mind? If you think you'd still be bothered, you're not alone. It turns out that simply observing mistreatment at work can have a surprisingly strong impact on people, even for those not directly involved. That's according to new research led by Edwyna Hill, coauthored by Rachel Burgess, Manuela Priesemuth, Jefferson McClain, and me, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. Using a method called meta-analysis —which takes results from many different studies and combines them to produce an overall set of findings—we reviewed the growing body of research on what management professors like me call 'third-party perceptions of mistreatment.' In this context, 'third parties' are people who observe mistreatment between a perpetrator and the victim, who are the first and second parties. We looked at 158 studies published in 105 journal articles involving thousands of participants. Those studies explored a number of different forms of workplace mistreatment ranging from incivility to abusive supervision and sexual harassment. Some of those studies took part in actual workplaces, while others examined mistreatment in tightly controlled laboratory settings. The results were striking: We found that observing a coworker being mistreated on the job has significant effects on the observers' emotions. In fact, we found that observers of mistreatment may be as affected by what happened as the people actually involved in the event. These reactions fall along a spectrum—some helpful, others less so. On the encouraging side, we found that observers tend to judge perpetrators and feel empathy for victims. These reactions discourage mistreatment by creating a climate that favors the victim. On the other hand, we found that observers may also enjoy seeing their coworkers suffer—an emotion called schadenfreude —or blame the victim. These sorts of reactions damage team dynamics and discourage people from reporting mistreatment. Why it matters These findings matter because mistreatment in the workplace is disturbingly common, and even more frequently observed than experienced. One recent study found that 34% of employees have experienced workplace mistreatment firsthand, but 44% have observed it happening to someone else. In other words, nearly half of workers have likely seen a scenario like the one described at the start of this article. Unfortunately, the human resources playbook on workplace mistreatment rarely takes third parties into account. Some investigation occurs, potentially resulting in some punishment for the perpetrator and some support for the victim. A more effective response to workplace mistreatment would recognize that the harm often extends beyond the victim, and that observers may need support too. What still isn't known What's needed now is a better understanding of the nuances involved in observing mistreatment. Why do some observers react with empathy, while others derive pleasure from the suffering of others? And why might observers feel empathy for the victim but still respond by judging or blaming them? Answering these questions is a crucial next step for researchers and leaders seeking to design more effective workplace policies.
Independent Singapore
10 hours ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
WFH fatigue? Why people under 30 are heading back to the 'real office'
Working from home (WFH) was seen as a pivotal job incentive for many people over the past few years. No shuttling back and forth, one can wear anything in the mornings, and the choice to take Zoom calls from any part of the house with a reliable Wi-Fi connection. Lately, however, an interesting shift is happening: an increasing number of workers under 30 are willingly heading back into the office. Yes, they do it of their own accord. So, what's behind this movement? Loneliness isn't just a buzzword. For many young professionals today, work isn't just about income; it's about community, meeting people, and building relationships. Pursuing a career from a bedroom desk can be very alienating, particularly when one is trying to make friends or build up contacts in a new city, or grow professionally without organic exchanges. Going back to the office, even on a part-time basis, gives people something like identity affirmation, social comfort, and emotional security. Out of sight, out of mind. Realistically speaking, when the manager only sees you in little squares during Zoom calls, it is hard to stand out. See also My dad, late 50s, got laid off; how now? Today's professionals are specifically mindful of the importance of visibility at work. Since many of these individuals are usually in the early phases of their professions, they are excited to learn, eager to network, and keen on proving themselves in what they're capable of. Being in the office enables them to spur-of-the-moment mentorship, try their hand at leadership roles, not to mention those coffee time chats that may turn into huge prospects in the future. Remote work may be effective, but it's not always exciting and inspiring. For those rushing for growth, inspiration matters a lot. Space matters, and not everyone has it. Not everyone has the indulgence of a home office with ergonomic furniture and speedy internet. Many under-30s live in joint apartments, tiny studios, or with co-tenants and family. Wanting to have a fruitful day of work next to a roommate on a gaming headset or a yapping dog can be a formula for weariness and tension. On the other hand, the office, for all its flaws, provides a physical space intended for work. For many, that alone is worth the travel from home to office and back. Structure and separation. WFH can easily fuzz the lines between work and life, particularly for younger professionals who are still trying to figure out procedures, practices, and restrictions. Being always 'on' is one thing when you're busy trying to prove yourself, and it quickly becomes untenable. With the office environment, natural boundaries are created. The day has a start and an end. The couch at home is back to being a place for Netflix, not spreadsheets. Company culture is back in style. Workers at present aren't just clocking in and out; they pursue purpose and a sense of belonging. For them, company culture is a lot more than pizza get-togethers or ping pong tables; it's about teamwork, relationships, synergy, and collective goals. And for many, culture is difficult to feel through a small Zoom screen. See also Women-powered organisation she1K invests in drone startup Hybrid isn't dead—it's evolving This is not saying that the work-from-home era is over and done with. Hybrid work models are still flourishing, and flexibility is still a top priority for many young professionals. What is shifting is the perception that remote work is equal to what is 'ideal.' More and more, the under-30 horde has recognised that now and then, 'being in the room matters more than being on the call.' Thus, if you see more bikes at parking spaces outside the office, or hear more conversation around the coffee machine, you're not imagining it. Young professionals in today's workforce are reminding all that work is actually more than just everyday jobs; it's also about people, places, and possibilities. In a world that's still unravelling the future of work, Gen Zs just want the best of both worlds, and aren't frightened to go out and get it.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
47 Hilariously Chaotic Employees Who Were 100% The Personality Hire
anonymous coworker was a practical joker. was this coworker. coworker was literally Jim Halpert. with this person. this one. coworker offered a fair deal. coworker played the most pointless is sometimes the funniest and most effective. coworker did the same. 9.I appreciate this coworker committing to the bit. that's a good the jokes. coworker was a a funny jerk, so it doesn't count. is just a Winston Bishop-level prank. employee added a nice message for this poor broken coffeepot that had seen better days. coworker made sure to leave a memento behind. did this coworker. one way to shame messy coworkers. — just turn coworkers' annoying actions into art! coworker just had to have the last word. coworker had jokes — as did whoever set this up. coworkers knew how to celebrate. at least he got to go home early! coworker was passive aggressive — but in a funny way. If you can't read the above notice, it says: AttentionPlease reserve this printer for work-related documents only. Ink is expensive! Please print all future jobs using the black and white printer in Ron's office. Please stop by my office if you would like to print something in color. Thank you for your understanding!Did you know? A gallon of ink can cost as much as $8000.00? That's enough to buy 40 iPhone 6s. that's heartwarming. coworkers were similarly supportive. coworker was the motivational hero needed to get through the workday. coworker had a similarly motivational message. employee gave their coworker's Keurig a major upgrade. that's what I call malicious compliance. coworker sent a subtle yet effective message. 30.I just know there's a loooong history here to make this necessary. coworker took their stolen food in good humor. person took drastic measures to save a coworker's orchid at any cost. coworker wrote a very effective two weeks notice. departing employee, another great cake to celebrate them. HR comes calling, say they printed it themself. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ coworker was just the *tiniest* bit evil. coworker knew just how to make their office feel welcoming. I wonder what it is? coworker decided the office art could use an upgrade. employee just wanted to make sure no one got suspicious — which was not appreciated by a passing lawyer. coworker played a cruel joke. coworker made do with what they had. employee proved potty humor does, actually, have a place in the workplace, HR be damned. coworker just wanted to feel included. employee made sure to brighten their coworkers' days. employee had WordArt on their company computer, and gosh darnit, they were going to use it. finally, this *might* get HR called on you, but it's pretty hilarious.
