Future of Work Special Report

With more firms offering a blended approach to working, Jillian Godsil reports on how they are making the office an attractive destination for employees

While working from home is cost-effective and sustainable, the office remains important for connection

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are now woven into the fabric of company cultures, in order to better reflect the actual population

The skills of today will not be enough for organisations to survive tomorrow

New technology drives workplace change – AI is expected to create new jobs and enhance existing ones

We ask five commentators about their vision for the office of the future

How the work has changed since the pandemic and what the future holds

Turbulent times and a growing talent shortage means attracting but also retaining staff is a major challenge for organisations everywhere

A new business set up by William Fry matches experienced lawyers looking for flexible work with companies who need people to work on short-term assignments

The companies in Derry letting their employees decide where they work

What will the workforce look like in 10 years’ time and will women have achieved parity with men?

How automation is affecting jobs – and how to successfully navigate it

Ergonomic furniture no longer as important as hybrid working, and hot desking more prevalent

A belief exists it will be human qualities that are most important in the future

Disruption caused by the advance of tech has been a source of concern and opportunity for both employers and employees

How will the office of the future deal with staff who come down with colds, flus and other bugs, as well as Covid?

We look at what companies on the cutting edge are doing

We asked four business leaders what advances will be game changers for their sector.

Future of Work case study: Tommy Doherty, partner at Mazars

‘There is nothing like face-to-face interaction to build your team... yet not having the commute to and from work gives great time back’

Future of Work case study: Paul Murphy, An Post branch manager Phibsborough

Future of Work case study: Conor Jacob, co-founder of events company Sofft Productions

Taking a flexible approach will be key to making new patterns work – for staff and employers

Service providers have had to adapt quickly and create improvements for the new virtual working space

If we are serious about human-centred collaboration it is time to move away from old layouts like cubicles or row of desks

Problem-solving skills critical as people navigate rapidly changing work environment

Manual jobs are changing as blue-collar workers take on more intellectual tasks

Hybrid is more scalable for smaller companies once they have the right focus on connectivity, security and inclusion

The green agenda filters down through every aspect of working, from how offices are designed and built to employee behaviour

‘In the office when you leave in the evening work is finished. Closing the virtual office door at home can be a bit more difficult’

Employers must plan for the opportunities and changes remote working will bring

Focus to shift from traditional benefits to balance between performance and wellbeing

‘The biggest challenge starting the business was having children...home-schooled around me and trying to manage their Zoom calls without enough devices’

‘I don’t think we will ever revert back to having the first round interview in the office’

Future of Work case study: Yvonne Holmes, European Recycling Platform

Legacy of pandemic will involve major changes to work, shopping and leisure practices

Promoting wellbeing and managing culture is a challenge when employees are working remotely