March
How personal messaging apps invaded our work life
The war plan leak saga says a lot about the irksome blurring of job and play on the chat software that have come to dominate so much of daily life.
Why customer surveys have finally gone too far
Demands for consumer feedback using impersonal, time-eating, poorly designed questionnaires have gone from bad to out of control.
How to spot a low performer at work
Good performance management requires the time and attention of managers, but cost-conscious companies are increasingly thinning them out.
The sobering new state of feminism
Support for female equality is going backwards among young men. Among the under-30s, a striking 57 per cent of males think the movement has gone too far.
Musk isn’t the only one who wants to know what you did last week
Bosses across the world want the same thing, as do many employees, especially those whose work is often invisible. It can be difficult to answer.
February
Who’s afraid of the big, bad sabbatical?
This leave policy is a deeply misunderstood corporate benefit. Once largely confined to academia, it is still a luxury in many countries, yet also more prevalent than imagined.
The stupidity of modern marketing
Why is simple, straightforward clarity beyond so many organisations?
The baffling (and little-known) WFH statistic
Businesses are tightening hybrid work rules, but working-from-home levels have so far barely budged.
Why the office sycophant will always be with us
But the early days of the Trump administration highlight the pitfalls of sucking up.
January
A woke mining boss shows why Trump’s DEI crusade will fail
Davos showed how many companies are convinced diversity and environmental measures make financial sense.
The thing about rich bosses
Wealthy managers are increasingly isolated from the less well-off at work and that’s not good news.
December 2024
The one thing employees really want (after a good salary)
People can stay in jobs that pay less than the market rate if they feel their work is regularly and properly valued. Recognising good work is cheap and effective.
Why people really decide to install solar panels
In an ideal world we would not need to be prodded into greener behaviour. But in many cases, the social contagion effect is a key motivator.
November 2024
Wanted: more bosses on the shop floor
Too many leaders avoid spending time with workers doing the jobs the business depends on. But it can be easy for them to get caught up in the daily crossfire of drama.
October 2024
Why coughing co-workers are the new pariahs
Since most of us are not required to host the Oscars or get sworn in as US commander-in-chief, it is fine to stay home if you’re sick.
Why it’s important to have an early alphabet surname
In the absence of quantitative signs of performance, the urge for recognition can make people obsess about what appear to be deeply trivial signs of success.
September 2024
What, me? Retire? Just because I’m 80?
Ageism is still rife in the workplace, assuming older employees can hang onto a job at all. This is a problem, as not all Boomers are wealthy.
Why you’re not alone in enjoying your job
Satisfied employees are convinced they are lucky exceptions in a world of toxic bosses and burnout.
The allure of the loud know-nothing
Do huge entry-level salaries encourage the selection of assertive, confident, forceful people rather than quieter, shyer rivals who are more competent?
August 2024
Why saying ‘no’ at work is good for your career
Researchers who knocked back extra work put themselves under the microscope and made some important discoveries.