This article was originally emailed as issue 172 of our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 14/03/2024. You can register here to receive them monthly.
POSSIBLY OUR BEST EVENT EVER?
Earlier this month, we met up with a diverse mix of professionals to explore the nature and future of workplace wellbeing. We chose Worcester College, Oxford as a unique venue in a ‘not-London’ city and drew delegates from all over the country. The format and content were very different from our previous events and we were privileged to have Andy Lake, Dr Nigel Oseland and Rosie Russell as our key speakers. I am also most grateful to Steven Howe and Twyla Howse of Bakker Elkhuizen for their sponsorship. The presentations prompted animated discussion throughout the day, including during the lunchtime walk around the lake. I really enjoyed myself and have a number of ideas for the structure and content of future events – watch out for details of our next one in London which we are already discussing. Ultimately, though, it’s not about what I thought of it. It’s about delegate satisfaction. The feedback survey has only just gone out and more than a third of participants have already responded. What did they think? The overall event score so far is 97%. I think they liked it too!
PODCASTS
With six recorded and the next three guests lined up, we have now established a rhythm and format that seems to have momentum (although it’s still a work in progress). We also have some contenders for the podcast name but we still don’t (yet) have ‘the one’! We shall be making a final decision during March so this is your last chance to make a suggestion and win an Amazon voucher. In the meantime, our March guest is Giles Miskin, talking about ways to use the Insights Discovery tool to create better teams. You can find all our podcasts here and find out more about Giles’ work here
WELLBEING – THE BIGGER PICTURE
Regular readers will know how fascinated I am about the expansion of the workplace wellbeing conversation and how many factors impact an individual’s experience of their work and workplace (wherever that is). I am also intrigued by the spectrum of ergonomics topics still being discussed on social media. I keep seeing ‘What’s the best office chair?’ questions and, last week, I saw a post on LinkedIn about keyboard wristrests. Is that something that still needs discussion? Haven’t we moved on yet? Or maybe I should still be blogging about the same topics we were exploring 30 years ago! Am I missing out by ignoring the more basic subjects? Do tell me what you think!
DATA SECURITY
I know this is a REALLY boring subject but it’s also very important! Over the last few months, we have been doing a lot of work to formalise and systemise our procedures so that they can be aligned to various national and international standards. In December, we gained Cyber Essentials and at the end of February, Cyber Essentials Plus certification. We have also just completed a comprehensive Framework Review to benchmark how close that alignment is to further standards. Watch this space for further announcements
MORE WORKPLACE EVENTS
Last month, I mentioned the significant events I am attending over the next few weeks so this month I thought I would mention a few of the one-day and half-day opportunities. Some of these will have already passed by the time you read this but it gives you a flavour of the variety that is available (both free and chargeable). You will find me (or you’ve already missed me!) at
14.03.24 – Embracing Change: Navigating the New Expectations of Employee Experience, Bristol
21.03.24 – Smart Work Network at Leesman, London: The Current State of Workplace Experience
27.03.24 – Sensory Processing, Cognitive Well-Being and Neuro-Inclusion in the Workplace, London.
Osmond Ergonomics 