Latest news with #GiantLeap
News24
25-05-2025
- Business
- News24
Warmer colours, more plants: SA employers go for homey offices to lure staff back
SA offices are adopting designs inspired by nature, with trending greens, blues, browns, and beiges to lure staff back on-site after working from home. Warmer tones replace outdated cool palettes, with Pantone's Mocha Mousse – a warm brown – as Pantone colour of the year. Home-inspired office design reflects the mood of post-Covid office work. For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page. In a bid to get employees out of their homes and back on-site after the Covid-19 pandemic, many companies are upping the office offering by creating more homey spaces that offer more than just a cubicle. Colour plays a key role, according to Linda Trim, director of Giant Leap, workplace design consultants and according to Trend Group, office interior designers, there is a 'growing trend towards earthy and organic tones'. The South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) shows a strengthening of overall vacancy rates from 16.1% to 13.7% from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2024, indicating an increased demand for office space. 'As more companies call employees back to work and return-to-work policies are common, they are also rethinking workplace design in hopes of boosting productivity and motivation. New uses of colour will be a big part of that, in what comes next for the workplace,' said Trim. 'The thoughtful application of colour in the workplace is a confluence of psychology, brand alignment and functional design. As organisations continue to evolve and embrace new ways of working, colour remains a powerful yet underutilised resource in shaping workplace culture and performance,' said Tandi Jacobs, general manager at ID Internal Developers. Trend Group "strategically employ[s] shades of blue in areas demanding concentration, leveraging its proven ability to enhance focus and create a sense of calm. Supplied/ Trend Group Greens, blues and neutral tones are popular choices for office interiors, according to Trim, also that nature-inspired design (biophilia) is on trend right now as it creates a relaxed atmosphere that helps create a homey feel. 'Blues and greens are associated with calmness and stability. These hues reduce anxiety and promote sustained focus, making them ideal for spaces requiring concentration, such as private offices, quiet work areas or meeting rooms,' said Jacobs. It's all in the plants An integral part of the biophilic interior style, live greenery, is also a popular design element and, according to Trim, is a big part of getting people back to work. The one common theme we are seeing in all our office designs of late is greenery,' said Jacobs. According to Jacobs, the biophilic colour palette promotes a calm, comforting environment that does not cause overstimulation. These include not only greens and blues, but also warm browns and soft beiges. According to Trend Group, bold accents are also in. Deep blues, rich oranges, and vibrant yellows add visual interest and personality. Jacobs believes colour can transform the workplace into a more human, functional and forward-looking environment. In the recent past, a cooler palette of whites and greys were on trend, but clients increasingly prefer warmer, neutral palettes like creams and warm greys, according to Jacobs. 'This could be because it creates a warmer, homely look and feel, and could be aligning more on the Pantone colour of the year, Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse and more recently, Cinnamon Slate 2113-40,' she said. 'People got very used to their homely environments in Covid, and wanted a similar feel from the office on their return,' added Trim.
South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
SCMP Best Bets: In-form Lady can bring the luck at Happy Valley
Sam Agars NEBRASKAN - R4 (5) Has been racing in good form and recent trial was impressive Jay Rooney SKY HEART - R8 (1) Has had excuses in his past two starts and can bounce back here Trackwork Spy AURORA LADY - R3 (2) Hardly ever puts a foot wrong and can salute again here Phillip Woo AURORA LADY - R3 (2) In a purple patch of form and looks hard to beat from a proper gate Shannon (Vincent Wong) COLOURFUL KING - R3 (8) Scored well over this C&D last start and can repeat the dose Racing Post Online NEBRASKAN - R4 (5) Solid effort for second to Giant Leap last start and can salute here Tom Wood MISSION STRIKE - R5 (6) Back to 1,800m at Happy Valley and he's a major player with blinkers fitted
The Citizen
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Do you want to work at home or in an office that looks like a hotel?
Employers' plans to get employees back in the office must be fair and legal, but making the office a better place to be will also help. Five years after the start of the pandemic that saw many employees work from home, there is still a tug-of-war about working from home versus working in the office. Why must you give up the convenience of working at home to sit in traffic and spend the day in a cold, grey office? Add to this that the war for talent is raging and South African companies face a stark choice: transform the office into a must-visit destination or watch your best people wanting to stay home. As global titans like Amazon hit snags with desk shortages and hybrid mandates crumble, Giant Leap, a workplace design consultancy, came up with a bold fix: the 'hotelification' of the office. 'Think rooftop terraces, on-site gyms, branded soap and a vibe that rivals a luxury hotel stay. It is not just a trend, but the key to reviving South Africa's office culture,' Linda Trim, director at Giant Leap, said. 'The clock is ticking for hybrid work. PMG's CEO survey shows 83% of leaders want everyone back in the office for five days a week within three years, but just trying to force office mandates will not bring back the office culture. The office must outshine home for people to go back.' ALSO READ: Hybrid, remote, in-office work – here are all the myths and truths The unique DNA of a South African office Trim said South African offices have a unique DNA. 'From the sprawling corporate towers of Sandton to the gritty start-up lofts of Braamfontein, they have long been places where hard work meets a sociable streak. 'Pre-pandemic, open-plan spaces buzzed with impromptu chats and Friday sundowners, reflecting a workforce that values connection as much as output. But remote work flipped the script with Zoom replacing the watercooler while employees got cozy with flexibility. 'Now high performers, especially in tech hubs like Cape Town or legal firms in Pretoria, guard that autonomy fiercely. They are your stars, your mentors, your deal-closers who will bolt if the office feels like a step back. We must offer them a premium experience that beats the lounge and justifies the trek to the office through the traffic.' That is why Giant Leap took a page from the hotel playbook to make offices irresistible. Trim said South African workplaces must feel like a getaway, not a grind. ALSO READ: How employers and employees can co-create a new way of work Will you work in this kind of office? 'We are designing spaces with integrated cafés serving flat whites, full shower suites for post-gym fresh-ups and rooftop gardens with Jozi or Cape views that turn a lunch break into an event. 'Picture kicking off your day with a workout downstairs, grabbing a bite on-site and winding down with colleagues under the Highveld sky. That's the kind of pull that trumps traffic on the N1.' Trim said location is also a game-changer and Giant Leap is nudging clients toward vibrant nodes like Sandton, Rosebank and the V&A Waterfront, where offices sit amid social hubs. 'Think artisanal markets, rooftop bars and galleries. It is about stitching work into a fuller day. 'South Africans love a good party. Give them an office near Newtown's jazz spots or Camps Bay's beachfront and they will show up. Investors are catching on, snapping up tired buildings in areas like Midrand or Durban's Umhlanga for refits. We are turning undervalued stock into goldmines with hotel-inspired upgrades.' ALSO READ: Is hybrid working actually working? Inspiration from global pacesetters in London for the office Trim draws inspiration from global pacesetters. 'London's 21 Bloomsbury Street boasts a rooftop clubhouse, gym with live-streamed classes and a towel service. Farringdon's 20 Kirby Street has soft lighting and cosy break-out zones that mimic home. 'We bring that flair here with flexible layouts, top-notch finishes and tech-savvy spaces that ditch the hot-desking flops South Africans loathed. Workers hated fighting for a desk. They want choice and comfort.' However, Trim pointed out that it is not just about adding a ping-pong table to an existing office. She is talking about holistic ecosystems with meeting rooms that flex for brainstorms, quiet pods for deep focus and amenities that make staff members' day seamless. 'This is how you beat the pajama workday: by making the office a place people crave, not tolerate.' She estimated that over 50% of workers are still resisting regular office time, but believed they will change their minds for premium, hotel-inspired spaces. ALSO READ: Most organisations will benefit from hybrid work The legalities of getting employees to return to the office If employees still do not want to return to the office, what can the employer legally do to force their return? Yvonne Mkefa, director in employment law at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, said that as a rule employers are allowed to make changes in the workplace, but they must do so lawfully and fairly. In South Africa, while there is no specific legislation governing remote working, the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and employment contracts determine whether requiring employees to return to the workplace is reasonable and lawful. According to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, employers must provide written details of employment, including particulars of their place, or places, of work for employees. If a contract of employment stipulates that the place of work is remote working, the employer is bound by that. Therefore, an employer's demand for the employee to return to working from an office would constitute breach of contract and a unilateral amendment of the terms and conditions of employment, Mfeka said. ALSO READ: Surprising reasons why people will go back to the office What does your employment contract say about working in the office? On the other hand, where the contract of employment specifically retains the right for the employer to determine the place of work, the employer has a contractual right and may unilaterally impose a place of work on the employee, subject to the employer acting fairly. This fairness includes not changing the place of work for only some and not all employees based on race or for an ulterior motive, for example. While the Labour Relations Act does not expressly regulate the place of work, it infuses the employment relationship with equity, including fairness. Mfeka said when employers want to make changes in the workplace, employees must have a say. Employers must also always act fairly regarding benefits, which could include the 'benefit' of working from home. If employers fail to do this, they could commit an unfair labour practice. Mfeka pointed out that even where a benefit is not a contractual term and condition of employment, employers must consult with employees to change a workplace benefit or practice that is subject to its discretion. 'As remote work continues to shape the employment landscape, it is important for employers to navigate these legal principles carefully to maintain compliance with South African law and a fair working environment,' Mfeka said.
South China Morning Post
14-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Ricky Yiu puts faith in Eason and Giant Leap in bid to consolidate third place in championship
Giant Leap (outside) is one of Ricky Yiu's top chances at the Valley on Wednesday night. Photos: Kenneth Chan Ricky Yiu Poon-fai is confident the consistent Eason and last-start winner Giant Leap will figure prominently at Happy Valley on Wednesday night as the veteran handler bids to consolidate third place in the trainers' championship. In a tight battle behind title leader John Size (47 wins) and David Hayes (41), only five wins separate Yiu (37) and the 11th-placed Cody Mo Wai-kit in the premiership standings. Yiu, who is tied on wins with Francis Lui Kin-wai but holds the ascendancy with more seconds than last season's champion trainer, will take a team of six runners to the city circuit on Wednesday night. Eason continues his bid for a breakthrough win in the first section of the Class Three Violet Handicap (1,200m) after a pair of close seconds and a third from his six starts this term after switching from the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen stable. The Written Tycoon gelding was only beaten a head when runner-up to Gustosisimo and Gallant Valour at the course and distance of his latest assignment. He struggled on a rain-affected Valley track when fifth to Spicy Gold last month before backing up seven days later to run an eye-catching fourth to Happy Fat Cat. 'We've got a good jockey on in Hugh Bowman,' Yiu said. 'The horse has been running well and hopefully he finishes in the first three. He'll be close again.' One tough customer! Happy Fat Cat seals a Cody Mo double at Happy Valley with a determined victory under @AntoineHamelin... ✌️#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 12, 2025 After a wide draw in barrier 11 forced him back to last on his latest appearance, Eason should get a far more economical run from gate three on Wednesday night. He strikes an incredibly even field featuring Bundle Of Charm, Nucleozor, Chateauneuf, Storming Dragon, Crimson Flash, King Miles, Shinyu Kokoroe, California Deeply and Up With Charm. Giant Leap jumps back into Class Three in the second section of the Violet Handicap after a tough Class Four triumph under visiting jockey Richard Kingscote last start. While the son of Capitalist tends to struggle at this level, Yiu is optimistic he can hold his form and take advantage of dropping 15 pounds to carry 119. 'He has a light weight this time. He's another genuine horse, especially at the Valley,' Yiu said. 'He's held his condition since his last start, so he'll go well. He can finish in the first three.' In-form jockey Andrea Atzeni, who won on Giant Leap earlier this season, hops back aboard Yiu's charge on Wednesday night but he must overcome the outside draw in the field of nine. Yiu's other Valley runners are Diamond Soars, Floof, Sure Joyful and Mega Bonus, who was elevated from first reserve for the second section of the Class Four Dianthus Handicap (1,200m) when Sunny Galaxy was scratched on Monday with a head injury. Yiu is also preparing for a strong FWD Champions Day assault on Sunday week, with stable star Voyage Bubble set for the Group One Champions Mile and Straight Arron bound for the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m). The 67-year-old had a change of heart after indicating Straight Arron would also tackle the Champions Mile after his last-start Group Three Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) victory over Galaxy Patch. 'Last time when he ran over the mile, it was a bit short and the second horse probably should have won. I think 2,000m is his best trip,' Yiu said.
