Latest news with #workenvironment
Washington Post
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Work Advice: A ‘provocatively' dressed worker needs a fit check
Reader: A woman who works for me dresses in a provocative fashion. We work in a formal professional setting. I get complaints from co-workers that her flesh-baring outfits are distracting and unprofessional. She recently wore a black lace dress with her cleavage showing and I blurted: 'Boy, you're dressed up for a Monday!' Her response was that she had a date that night.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SFL – Real Estate Excellence, the Key to Market Appeal
10,300 sq.m. let since the start of the year, at record rents PARIS, July 01, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Since the start of the year, SFL's (Paris:FLY) volume of completed lettings has remained high in a market shaped by relatively lower take-up rates. In all, nine leases were signed during the period, including four rollovers, on some 10,300 sq.m. of office space at record rents. The average nominal rent for these leases topped €1,000/sq.m. for a non-cancellable period of 7.2 years and a below-market incentive rate of 14.1%. Aude Grant, SFL's Chief Executive Officer, commented: "These rental performances reflect the level of quality and rigour that goes into each of our renovation and redevelopment projects, to ensure that they meet the highest technical, design and environmental standards sought by companies committed to offering their employees the best possible working environment. Companies understand the essential role of the office as a worklife environment that fosters social interaction and collective intelligence. Homeworking may well be here to stay, but it is generally limited to around two days a week, disproving earlier claims that the office was becoming a thing of the past! Employees enjoy being able to work from home for part of the week, but what they really want is greater freedom and a more meaningful work experience. Today, one manager in two considers the office to be a decisive criterion in their choice of employer. In light of these changing expectations, the choice of office property has become a strategic decision no longer dominated by technical considerations". As a general rule, prospective tenants looking for high quality office space also expect very high quality amenities. Virginie Krafft, SFL's Commercial Director, explained: "Our expertise in planning critical service areas where employees can meet and exchange ideas involves working closely with interior designers to create spaces that are both pleasant and functional, inspired by the timeless design codes used in hotels. Beauty is no longer a superfluous luxury, but a demonstration of commitment. Our data – taken from our ParisWorkplace survey – shows a clear correlation between employees' perception of their offices' attractiveness and their level of well-being. Employees who appreciate their office's aesthetic appeal give their well-being at work a score of 8.7, compared with 5.8 for those who do not like their offices. Today, the office needs to be more attractive than the home: it has to be appealing, embody an identity and reflect values. That's why hotel industry codes – volumes, design, services – are making a remarkable entry into the office world". The latest transactions illustrate this ongoing drive to maintain high standards: Louvre Saint-Honoré: this iconic asset is home to the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art, which is due to open to the public by October 2025. After five years of major redevelopment work, it was time for the offices to undergo a makeover. Firstly, by creating a full service centre that is both warm and elegant, made possible through the talent of interior designer Ana Moussinet. Then, by extensively modernising the office space, not only from a technical point of view, but also from an environmental and, of course, aesthetic perspective. Repositioning the offices in the prime segment of the market has not just benefited the current occupants, but also attracted new tenants from a wide variety of business sectors. The most recent lease concerns 1,600 sq.m., let for a 9-year non-cancellable period at a rent of €1,125/sq.m. Haussmann Saint-Augustin: After negotiating the early departure of WeWork from the entire 12,000 sq.m. of office space, SFL launched a renovation programme designed by Studios Architecture. The reception area, the office floors and the service areas have been redesigned in line with SFL standards to bring out the full potential of the asset, with the creation of a café opening onto a landscaped courtyard, an auditorium, a public access reception area, shared meeting rooms, as well as a gym and a bike park. Each of these spaces are popular among companies and their employees. The first new tenant to be won over by this new setting was a law firm, signing a 9-year non-cancellable lease on around 2,000 sq.m. at a rent of €1,050/sq.m. 103 Grenelle: as the only business centre on the Left Bank, 103 Grenelle attracts a varied clientele from sectors as diverse as fashion, finance, consultancy and ICT. Here again, the quality of services has guaranteed the satisfaction of existing tenants (as reflected in the decisions of Amiral Gestion and Atalante to roll over their leases on a total of some 2,000 sq.m.) and attracted new companies such as BPRI, which has signed a 6-year non-cancellable lease on almost 700 sq.m. The same is true of our other major business centres, such as Washington Plaza, where available space has once again been pre-let with Citadel's take-up of some 1,900 sq.m. under a 6-year non-cancellable lease, and the rollover of 3i Gestion's lease on over 700 sq.m. for a further 6 years. In the Edouard VII complex, Stream has rolled over its lease on over 700 sq.m., and AFG has taken up 1,100 sq.m. under a 9-year non-cancellable lease, confirming the complex's alignment with market demand. About SFL Leader in the prime segment of the Parisian commercial real estate market, Société Foncière Lyonnaise stands out for the quality of its property portfolio, which is valued at €7.6 billion and is focused on the Central Business District of Paris (# Edouard VII, Washington Plaza, etc.), and for the quality of its client portfolio, which is composed of prestigious companies. As France's oldest property company, SFL demonstrates year after year an unwavering commitment to its strategy focused on creating a high value in use for users and, ultimately, substantial appraisal values for its properties. With its sights firmly set on the future, SFL is committed to sustainable real estate with the aim of building the city of tomorrow and helping to reduce carbon emissions in its sector. Stock market: Euronext Paris Compartment A – Euronext Paris ISIN FR0000033409 – Bloomberg: FLY FP – Reuters: FLYP PA S&P rating: BBB+ stable outlook View source version on Contacts SFL - Thomas Fareng - T +33 (0)1 42 97 27 00 - Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The "Happy Cow" Principle: Why Rest And Humor Drive Peak Performance
Relaxing and enjoying the work environment. Transformative leadership insights often come from unexpected sources. The highly successful "Great milk comes from Happy Cows. Happy Cows come from California" campaign is one of those utilizing effective advertising, the California Milk Advisory Board was able to differentiate itself in a competitive market. From 1983 to 2004, cheese production in California surged by 609%, making the state the nation's second-largest cheese commercials weren't just clever marketing; they contained a fundamental truth that translates directly to leadership. Creating better environments leads to better long hours and staying constantly busy may appear like an effective way to accomplish more, but research shows it is counterproductive. Continually pushing the mind and body to their limit often takes a toll on both mental and physical health, increasing the likelihood of leaders who realize this are no longer asking, "How can I get my team to work more?" Instead, they're questioning, "How can I create conditions where my team produces their best work?" This new perspective shift becomes a strategic business Breaks For Peak Performance Just as California's "Happy Cows" were portrayed enjoying spacious pastures and relaxing, your team needs conditions that enable them to be in their best cognitive to Microsoft's 2021 Work Trend Index, even short 10-minute breaks between meetings reduced stress and allowed the brain to 'reset,' leading to better engagement. By making meetings a little shorter, you can easily add some buffer time between fully experience the benefits of a break, it's helpful to avoid activities that require mental or physical exertion or interaction. While avoidance can be challenging, forward-thinking companies are finding ways to create those CEO Marc Benioff understands the importance of mindfulness and incorporating breaks throughout the workday for better cognition and creativity. Salesforce offices feature designated areas throughout the building where employees can leave their phones behind and take a quiet moment to As A Business Strategy While breaks benefit cognitive function, there's another powerful tool the "Happy Cows" campaign understood: the strategic value of humor. Their commercials featured cows talking to each other or doing something funny appropriate humor in the workplace can become a simple and effective way to transform team dynamics. Incorporating ways to laugh together and have fun can reduce stress and increase communication, trust, and The Company Culture The creators of the "Happy Cows" campaign intuitively understood that well-being has a direct impact on output. When you invest in creating a healthy and positive work environment, it is evident throughout the CEO Satya Nadella demonstrated this principle as he transformed Microsoft's culture from a competitive to a collaborative one. His intentional focus on creating a more connected environment was one of the ways he grew the company's market cap from $300 billion to $3 trillion under his ways to connect everyone in the workplace is another key to generating breakthrough ideas. Pixar created its own "Happy Cow" environment by specifically designing their campus to encourage interactions and collaboration among team as "Happy Cows" produce superior cheese, teams that enjoy their environment deliver exceptional results. Focusing on implementing strategic breaks and increasing positive interactions will have noticeable outcomes. According to Gallup (2023), organizations with high employee engagement experience 23% higher profitability and 18% lower you continue to build your leadership strategy, consider incorporating more fun and recharging activities into your workday. The "Happy Cow" principle isn't just clever marketing; it's a leadership principle worth embracing.
Zawya
23-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Employee engagement rate in public sector reaches 83.4%: Saudi minister
RIYADH — Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi said that the Saudi employee engagement indicators for the year 2024 has achieved tangible positive results. "The employee engagement rate for public sector employees reached 83.4 percent, exceeding the set annual target of 76.5 percent. This reflects growing institutional awareness and the authorities' keenness to improve work environments and promote a culture of professional commitment," he said while addressing the annual ceremony of honoring government agencies that achieved the highest levels of employee engagement in 2024. The minister presented the Employee Engagement Award to nine government agencies during the ceremony, which was attended by several government officials and representatives of government agencies. In his speech, Al-Rajhi emphasized that the Employee Engagement Program embodies the interest and support of the wise leadership for the public sector. "This program reflects the ministry's commitment to strengthening the role of human capital as a fundamental pillar in the transition to a more efficient government work environment. The program contributes to consolidating a sense of belonging and initiative, raising the quality of services provided to beneficiaries, and enhancing performance efficiency," he said. Al-Rajhi reviewed the most notable achievements during 2024, such as the Cabinet's approval of the National Program for Succession and Leadership Development, the launch of the Promising Leaders Program, the qualification of more than 120 government leaders through academic programs and leadership forums, the launch of the engineering salary scale regulations, and the launch of several electronic services that contribute to supporting corporate governance in the government sector. Deputy Minister for Human Capital Development Fahad Al-Drees made a presentation on the Employee Engagement Measurement Initiative, which included a comprehensive assessment of levels of satisfaction and professional commitment. He also introduced the "Motivating Work Environment Program" and the "Institutional Engagement Platform," which enables government agencies to monitor moral performance indicators and improve motivation strategies. The ceremony included panel discussions and a presentation of several success stories in the field of employee engagement within government agencies. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has won first place in the government ministries category, while the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing came in second, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology emerged third. In the institutions, councils, and public bodies category, the National Competitiveness Center bagged the first place, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property came in second, and the General Authority for Endowments bagged the third place. In the educational and training institutions category, Al-Majmaa University has won first place, followed by Najran University, and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. It is noteworthy that the Career Engagement Program is one of the strategic initiatives of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. It aims to promote a culture of high performance, create a positive competitive environment among government agencies, and encourage the exchange of best practices in the field of human capital management and development. Saudi employee engagement refers to the level of enthusiasm, dedication, and connection that employees in Saudi Arabia feel towards their work and their organizations. It encompasses how emotionally invested employees are in their jobs, their commitment to the company's goals, and their willingness to go the extra mile. High employee engagement is linked to increased productivity, improved performance, and a more positive work environment. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Irish Times
11-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, June 11th: On hospital consultants, gender issues and book censorship
Sir, – Paediatricians are perceived as the kinder and less worldly members of the medical profession. That they have developed a toxic work environment for themselves and their nursing and junior medical colleagues is sad and dangerous. Few of their GP colleagues knew or suspected it. As Priscilla Lynch has pointed out (' Children's health crisis will roll on until we have transparency,' June 9th) neither did the Department of Health, the Minister, the NTPF and the HSE know about it until it was reported in the media. Paediatrics in Dublin operates in discrete sites without much recourse to GP or hospital colleagues and where poor professional behaviours can be normalised and kept secret. Paediatrics will now be decanted from three different hospitals with differing traditions, patient bases and cultures on to an expensive new facility. Expecting them to work harmoniously is a highly irresponsible pipe dream. READ MORE The history of hospital mergers in Dublin is an unhappy one with Beaumont and Tallaght taking years to settle. In the business world mergers are commonplace with attendant job threats keeping staff in line with employer expectations. In hospital mergers this does not apply as staff unions will negotiate for all existing staff to keep their jobs, with possibly some dislocation payments as well. This applies to the consultant staff too, meaning that management can't manage. How are managers expected to deal with a few highly unionised, well-paid doctors with track records of bullying junior staff and playing the system. Changing a toxic culture will not be easy. The sites of two of the hospitals being merged on to the new hospital may soon be up for sale in a rampant property market. It is not clear who will be the beneficiaries. A proportion of the proceeds of such sales needs to be earmarked to allow management of those who are burnt out, those wishing early retirement and those who do not embrace the unrivalled opportunities the new facility offers. Funding of multidisciplinary ethics and professional seminars are needed to develop an ethos to make a success of the new hospital. This is after all a professional issue where respect for colleagues, junior and senior, has been damaged. The fiascos of previous mergers would be avoided, and patients will be sure to receive the care they deserve. The introverted and secretive nature of existing paediatric practice needs to be addressed with good open management, adherence to employment contracts and governance that draws on international experience. Yours, etc TOM O'DOWD MD GPs at Tallaght Cross, Dublin. Reporting on gender issues Sir, – I was delighted to see Hugh Linehan's article asking some long overdue soul-searching questions about Irish media's reticence on covering gender issues (' Why is there so little coverage of gender identity issues in the Irish media ?' June 10th) and highlighting the shameful quiet cancelling of Stella O'Malley. Throughout that difficult period Stella was helping hundreds of families in Ireland and around the world through Genspect, the Irish based organisation she founded. These families were desperately trying to support loved ones experiencing gender dysphoria, but had been devastated by ideological capture among mental health and medical professionals. As a psychotherapist watching this happen within her profession Stella spoke up and did something when she thought people were being harmed, the same way others have bravely spoken up in the past. I hope now the tide seems to be turning away from loud activist voices and towards the evidence on gender issues that Irish media gets back to basics reporting the facts even when the facts aren't popular. – Yours, etc, LOUISE WHELAN, Greystones, Co Wicklow. Sir, – Why is Hugh Linehan's article on the lack of coverage of gender identity issues hidden in the Business section? – Yours, etc, DR JOHN DOHERTY, Gweedore, Co Donegal. Sir, –Congratulations on Hugh Linehan's long overdue article on the topic of gender identity and the silence of the Irish media. This refusal to cover the issue of gender identity in Irish society and all its implications is shameful and reflects the worst type of censorship – self censorship. The boycotting and failure to cover anything that might be construed as gender critical views, authors, news items, women's sports, women's groups, etc., has echoes of the worst excesses of the State censorship in the last century. I now look forward to more coverage and analysis of the issues and developments involved in gender identity theory such as the Cass Report, the banning of puberty blockers, the UK Supreme Court ruling, the attitude of our political parties, etc. JULIA ANDERSON Co Wicklow. Sir, – I was appalled to read Hugh Linehan's description of the Cass Report as 'a years-long, evidence based review of youth gender services led by a respected paediatrician' without any acknowledgement of the controversy and allegations of bias that surround the report, as well as its criticism internationally by many professional bodies, healthcare providers, academics and researchers. Particularly jarring in a piece calling for honesty of discussion, such an omission is, at best, misleading and deeply irresponsible. – Yours, etc, EOGHAN O'SULLIVAN, Dublin. Sir, – Hugh Linehan's article erroneously describes Stella O'Malley as 'an activist with a clear ideological stance'. Providing children and their parents with accurate information about potentially harmful or unnecessary interventions honours the clinician's obligation to act in the patient's best interests and upholds their duty to do no harm. This is not activism, it's ethical practice. If advocating for evidence-based, compassionate care makes one an 'activist', then every parent, doctor, psychotherapist, and indeed every journalist, deserves the badge. And if activism is the measure of a concerned and moral adult, what does it say about those who don't qualify? – Yours, etc, SANDRA ADAMS, Baldoyle, Dublin 13. Gardening leave Sir, – I recently retired from the health sector and I now have a huge interest in gardening. I can work at my own pace. If a plant is in the wrong place I can reposition it or get rid of it altogether. Other plants can be kept in check by a good 'clipping.' I can have great ideas and change them next season if they don't work out. I can ease off in the winter and start afresh in the spring. So if you want job satisfaction gardening is the answer. – Yours, etc, MARY WALSH, Stillorgan, Dublin. Parking and entitlement Sir, – I am lucky enough to live on a residential street in Dublin comprised of terraced housing. Parking is on-street and is essentially a free for all. Our nine-year-old son has a disability and a part of his condition is that he is a flight risk. Some households on our street have up to five cars, parking where they like while choosing to place a cone outside their own residence, thereby preventing others from parking there. We have politely requested that members from a multi-car household avoid parking outside our house if possible. Because of our son's disability. But when I made this request again today after a car had been left outside our door for four days I was informed that because people pay road tax they can park where they like. ''That's how it works,' they said. Yes. Indeed. They said that because there is not an accessible sign painted outside our house they can continue to park there. Also true. Not all disabilities are highly visible. They are not all the same. Although we are entitled to apply for a blue badge, because my son has no mobility issues. we cannot avail of an accessible parking space outside our home. The irony is that he is in danger because he is very mobile. A flight risk. With no sense of personal safety. And he is very fast. I look forward to the day when I do not have to constantly advocate for my son. When outdated bylaws catch up. And when above all the world is a kinder place. Where requests by parents of vulnerable children with additional needs are met with empathy, understanding, consideration and respect. – Yours, etc, REBECCA KEHOE, Dublin 3 Sir, – Brendan Murphy writes about careless parking. (Letters, June 10th). I live in a 1960s house, having purchased it in 1967. My house, like most of the time, had a garage, into which you put your car at night time. There was room on the driveway for the car during the day. However, nowadays, as my generation motor away to the great car park in the sky, our houses are being purchased by families who arrive with several large SUV type cars. The first thing they do is to convert the garage into a room or office. Thus, with their large cars they park one on the driveway and their other cars are parked on the road, one outside their own house, the others outside the houses of our neighbours. While I understand that the roadway is open parking for everyone, this situation quickly escalates to obstructions for those driving past, resulting in zig-zag manoeuvring and braking hard as one tries to drive up or down the road. A further complication is that if two cars park directly opposite each other the road is blocked. I've seen it happen. Believe me, it can only get worse. – Yours, etc, TONY CORCORAN, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. Censorship and books Sir, – Ray Burke's report ( An Irishman's Diary, June 10th) of President Michael D Higgins's anecdote about being refused a copy of Bertrand Russell's book, Why I Am not a Christian, in the 1960s by the Galway librarian reminded me of my experience in the main library in Waterford when I requested a copy of Lewis Carrolls' Alice in Wonderland in the 1970s. I got the book alright, but not before the librarian had closely questioned me as to why I wanted it. I can only speculate that this was due to the fact that I was a male in his 20s at the time. Surely this was a case of honi soit qui mal y pense? There was rather a lot of that around books at the time. – Yours, etc, Séamus MCKENNA, Maynooth, Co Kildare. Sir, Ray Burke's Irishman's Diary, on book censorship reminded me of a story my former French teacher at St Columb's College in Derry told. He said he was stopped crossing the Border at the Irish Customs post in Aughnacloy when the customs officer spotted a copy of Émile Zola's Germinal sitting on the passenger seat. 'You might want to put that out of view,' said the official tactfully, 'Her books are not allowed here.' – Yours etc, JOE MCLAUGHLIN. Scotland. Trump and the US electorate Sir, – Lest we forget, because of our own focus on the damage he has already caused and the future potential damage to our economic and democratic lifestyle, US president Donald Trump has imposed and continues to inflict as much, if not more, trauma and prejudice on his own US citizens. He had already allowed Elon Musk run riot as de facto head of the 'department of government efficiency,' (Doge). As late as last Friday he asked the US Supreme Court to permit his administration to proceed with dismantling the department of education and now we see his plans to deploy some 700 US Marines (a military force trained to kill) on the streets of Los Angeles in addition to the already deployed National Guard troops. It gives me no pleasure to say so, but hopefully the narcissistic and vindictive behaviour of this president will prompt future US electorates to be very careful of what it wishes for and in the process sustain the greater civilised world. – Yours, etc, MICHAEL GANNON, Kilkenny. A picture paints 1,000 words Sir, – The photograph of the rescue from rubble near Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip yesterday (Irish Times, June 10th) after the Israeli strike reduced me to tears. Look at the little girl in the man's arms up close. Shame on all of us who allow this to happen. Shame on so - called ''humanity'. I try mostly not to look to stop the upset, the rage building more and more against all of those who allow this to happen. Well done to all those who protest great and small. Thank you for highlighting this awful atrocity. Keep doing it please. I wonder will this little girl survive? – Yours, etc, GERALDINE MCGINLEY, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal. Junior Cycle English test Sir, – The Irish National Organisation of Teachers of English (INOTE) has noted with dismay the inclusion of a question exclusively on short stories on last week's Junior Cycle English paper. Asking a question about 'how setting vitally influences character action' in short stories in a state exam is unwise and unfair. Narrowing the focus to short stories exclusively will have disadvantaged a significant number of students, something we absolutely reject as useful in a state exam. A much fairer question would have allowed students to discuss setting in a short story OR a novel. Every year INOTE has felt disappointed with some questions asked of our students in the JC English exam. Despite plenty of reasonable and fair questions, too often we have noted questions that are either much too narrow in focus or much too ambitious in scope for students, questions that are known in teaching circles as 'Gotcha!' questions. After a three-year journey in the classroom that values creativity, discussion and critical thinking, asking these types of questions is simply unfair on hardworking students desperate to showcase what they've learned. We sometimes wonder whether the SEC is aware of what 15 year old English students are capable of in such a highly time-pressured exam. We would urge the SEC to reduce the number of questions on the HL JC paper, embed more student choice and flexibility and also to be more realistic in their question design. Our students deserve the chance to shine. It is the least they deserve. – Yours etc, MIKEY MEALLY, INOTE chairman Co Laois.
