EDITION 979
24 JULY 2023

There is no escaping it: too much news is bad for you. It should come with a government health warning: “This intellectual diet is fine taken in small doses, and preferably in weekly instalments, via a well-balanced newsletter, such as 10 things from William Montgomery."

So, as another week slips by, here are 10 things which caught my attention and may have escaped yours. Please feel free to share on social media and forward to your colleagues and friends so they can also subscribe, learn and engage. I would be very grateful if you did.

William Montgomery
Editor and CEO of TEN

1. How to give feedback to overly sensitive employees. Giving feedback to a colleague can be challenging, especially if they are sensitive or defensive. However, feedback is essential for improving performance, building trust, and fostering collaboration. How can you deliver feedback to a sensitive colleague in a way that is constructive, respectful, and effective? Here’s a three-part plan. READ MORE

2. Britons spend less time in the office that rest of Europe. Britons work remotely 1.5 days a week on average, which is above the international average of 0.9 days, according to research from the IFO Center for Macroeconomics and Surveys. More than 42,000 full-time workers across 34 countries were surveyed for the German thinktank’s study. Despite working from home more than those in many other countries, the survey found that UK employees would prefer to be remote even more of the time, with 2.3 remote days a week being the average that workers want. The study highlighted that Britain’s remote working trends tended to be more similar to other English-speaking countries, with US workers spending an average of 1.4 days a week at home. In Australia, this was slightly lower at 1.3 days, but in Canada the average was 1.7 days. The Times

3. Hybrid workers get flexible at 4pm. There’s a new data point in the flex work debate. According to researchers at Microsoft, the average workday contains three “peaks” during which keyboard activity spikes: one each in the morning and afternoon, and a third around 10 p.m. The last shift is likely workers compensating for the 4-to-6-p.m. “dead zone,” – a period when even in-office employees clock out to “take a turn in the kids’ carpool, hit the gym or beat traffic.” Some say such flexibility puts workers without children at a disadvantage by extending their duties into the night time hours. Like it or not, though, Microsoft expects that the “triple-peak” phenomenon is here to stay. The Wall Street Journal

4. Biggest wealth fall for British households since WWII. The UK has seen the most significant fall in household wealth since the second world war due to rising interest rates, says a Resolution Foundation report. Aggregate household wealth has dropped by £2.1tn in cash terms, falling 200 percentage points since 2021 when measured along with the UK's national income. The report notes this is primarily due to declining asset values like house prices and bond values. While higher rates may negatively impact mortgage holders, they could benefit younger generations by making pensions more lucrative and housing more affordable. The study estimates house prices could fall 25% in cash terms over five years, which may help many first-time buyers get on the property ladder. Reuters

5. Addressing abusive work cultures. How can toxic work cultures of sexual assault, harassment, racism and bullying be stopped? After more than 100 current and recent UK staff came forward with allegations of sexual harassment, racism and homophobia at McDonald's, employees are pointing out how this behaviour is commonplace across many industries, especially the wider hospitality sector. Sometimes the issues can be perpetuated by management who lack the necessary training or experience to know how to deal with such situations appropriately. While some say that addressing the issue should begin in schools, others believe more comprehensive training and ongoing development is needed before and during leadership tenures. What do you think should be done? CONTACT US

6. Tories fear electoral ‘wipeout’. Conservatives fear an “election wipeout” with the party losing 100 to 150 seats, said the inews site. Labour and the Lib Dems are expected to work together to deliver the Tories a “fatal blow” at the general election, said the outlet, despite denials of an official Lib-Lab pact. Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak is preparing to launch a “more aggressive political campaign” with “divisive” policies on crime, migrant boats and transgender rights. The Times

7. Public funding of monarchy to rise. King Charles III will receive a “huge pay rise” from the UK taxpayer, said The Guardian, as part of government plans to boost public funding of the monarchy by 45% from 2025. A review of royal funding published by the Treasury revealed the royal family’s grant is due to increase from £86m to £125m. The review was “heavily spun” by the Treasury to give the impression that the king would be taking a pay cut, but the report reveals the monarchy is due to receive a “huge pay increase”. The Guardian

8. Are Brits becoming ‘soap dodgers’? Britain is becoming “a nation of soap dodgers”, as sales of personal hygiene products slump during the cost-of-living crisis. Demand for soap fell by 48% in the first six months of 2023 compared with the same period last year, while sales of hand wash are down 23%. While soaring prices have been cited, the paper said another “possible explanation” is that Britons have “become more European in their approach to hygiene”. Past studies have found that less than half of French people take a shower or bath every day. The Times

9. It wasn’t all bad. Cheaper mortgages could be available “within weeks” as better than expected inflation figures suggest interest rates are “close to peaking”. The Office for National Statistics said that consumer price inflation had fallen from 8.7% in May to 7.9% in the year to June, boosting hopes that the Bank of England will not have to increase the base rate, now at 5%, much further. The sharp fall in inflation “delivered a boost to the housing market”. The Telegraph

10. The bottom line. Driving at 80mph uses 25% more fuel than at 70mph. Travel at 60mph and you will use 9% less fuel than at 70mph, and over 60 miles in perfect conditions it’ll only take you 8.5 minutes longer. The Daily Mail