Greenwashing and the Benefits of Meeting-Free Days: TOP 5 Trends From The World Of Work
This week, corporate greenwashing, IMF slashes its global forecast, Japan’s corporate work culture is changing, and the benefits of meeting-free days. Read this week’s trends from the world of work.
April 22, 2022
Future of Work
Future of Skills
Senior executives at large companies around the world are prioritizing sustainability goals…and they feel confident with their company’s progress, for the most part.
A new report found that just 36% of respondents said their organizations have tools in place to let them track their progress, and 58% said their organization was guilty of greenwashing.
What else matters this week?
Consumerism is coming for the metaverse.
5 must-know trends defining the Green Transition and Green Economy.
More than half of Americans in their 40s are sandwiched between an aging parent and their own children.
The cost of fertilizer is just too expensive…and farmers around the globe are trying to figure out how to do with less.
French court fines Deliveroo thousands for abusing freelance status of workers.
Utah-based tech company is using robots to help reduce workplace injuries.
We’ve got a full breakdown of all the top headlines you can’t miss this week.
5 must-know trends defining the Green Transition and Green Economy.
More than half of Americans in their 40s are sandwiched between an aging parent and their own children.
The cost of fertilizer is just too expensive…and farmers around the globe are trying to figure out how to do with less.
French court fines Deliveroo thousands for abusing freelance status of workers.
Utah-based tech company is using robots to help reduce workplace injuries.
We’ve got a full breakdown of all the top headlines you can’t miss this week.
#1. Work from home is benefiting the neurodiverse.
Work from home has been hugely beneficial to many knowledge workers, but it’s been especially beneficial for the neurodiverse. Neurodiverse is a term that refers to people who conditions like autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and dyslexia.
Typical office environments can be challenging for neurodiverse people, especially because social interactions can be continuous and unpredictable.
In one report by the Wall Street Journal, neurodiverse workers said they have thrived since moving to remote work. Remote work allows them more flexibility in interacting with colleagues through virtual communication channels like Slack or Teams.
“The pandemic helped level the playing field by creating working conditions that are the same for everyone and better controlled through the use of technology,” said Daniel Clayton, vice president of global security operations at Bitdefender Inc., a Romania-based company that makes hack prevention and response tools. Read more here.
Typical office environments can be challenging for neurodiverse people, especially because social interactions can be continuous and unpredictable.
In one report by the Wall Street Journal, neurodiverse workers said they have thrived since moving to remote work. Remote work allows them more flexibility in interacting with colleagues through virtual communication channels like Slack or Teams.
“The pandemic helped level the playing field by creating working conditions that are the same for everyone and better controlled through the use of technology,” said Daniel Clayton, vice president of global security operations at Bitdefender Inc., a Romania-based company that makes hack prevention and response tools. Read more here.
#2. IMF cuts global growth forecast over Ukraine war.
The International Monetary Fund is cutting back its global growth forecast as a result of the war in Ukraine. The IMF, in its half-yearly update, warned that Russia’s invasion could fragment the world economy into rival blocs. The growth estimate dropped from 4.4% to 3.6%.
“In the matter of a few weeks, the world has yet again experienced a major, transformative shock. Just as a durable recovery from the pandemic-induced global economic collapse appeared in sight, the war has created the very real prospect that a large part of the recent gains will be erased,” said Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, the IMF’s economic counsellor and director of research. Read more here.
“In the matter of a few weeks, the world has yet again experienced a major, transformative shock. Just as a durable recovery from the pandemic-induced global economic collapse appeared in sight, the war has created the very real prospect that a large part of the recent gains will be erased,” said Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, the IMF’s economic counsellor and director of research. Read more here.
#3. Japan’s corporate warriors are rethinking their priorities.
For decades, Japan has had a traditional job-for-life model. The goal has always been the same: kick off a lifetime devoted to one company when they hire students out of college. Employees work long hours, sacrifice their personal life, and follow a prescribed career path in exchange for job security and salary and status that rise with age.
But this model, which underpins Japan’s economic ride, is slowly eroding. Employers have been challenging the system for years, arguing that greater flexibility can help improve competitiveness. Now, as thousands have been working from home, the pressure is coming from both sides: people have had time to rethink their careers and their lives, and they want change. Read more here.
But this model, which underpins Japan’s economic ride, is slowly eroding. Employers have been challenging the system for years, arguing that greater flexibility can help improve competitiveness. Now, as thousands have been working from home, the pressure is coming from both sides: people have had time to rethink their careers and their lives, and they want change. Read more here.
#4. The surprising impact of meeting-free days.
Even prior to the pandemic, many managers and workers felt meetings were costly and unproductive. But since the pandemic, as many companies shifted to remote and hybrid work, meetings have steadily increased to help compensate for the loss of in-person interactions.
Today’s knowledge workers spend more than 80% of their time in meetings, which can negatively impact their physical and mental wellbeing. As a result, many organizations have started implementing no-meeting days, but they’re finding the optimal weekly balance requires deliberation. Read more here.
Today’s knowledge workers spend more than 80% of their time in meetings, which can negatively impact their physical and mental wellbeing. As a result, many organizations have started implementing no-meeting days, but they’re finding the optimal weekly balance requires deliberation. Read more here.
#5. Global executives suspect their own companies of “greenwashing.”
Senior executives at large companies around the world are prioritizing sustainability goals…and they feel confident with their company’s progress. But many of these same leaders are pointing out that “green hypocrisy exists” and their own companies have overstated their progress on sustainability goals.
Why does this matter? Whether or not large companies meet their greenhouse gas emissions targets will determine the fate of the Paris Agreement’s temperature targets. But a new report found that just 36% of respondents said their organizations have tools in place to let them track their progress…and 58% said their organization was guilty of greenwashing. Read more here.
Why does this matter? Whether or not large companies meet their greenhouse gas emissions targets will determine the fate of the Paris Agreement’s temperature targets. But a new report found that just 36% of respondents said their organizations have tools in place to let them track their progress…and 58% said their organization was guilty of greenwashing. Read more here.
