Each week I’m going to provide a round up of what I consider to be important and interesting articles on the future of work (not authored by me). These will include a variety of sources and topics ranging from workplace practices to robots and automation to leadership and everything in between. There’s a lot of information out there so I’m hoping that these weekly round ups will help make life a bit easier for you by giving you just the good stuff. Let’s get into it!

More Start-Ups are Offering Unusual Perks to Attract Employees
Tech companies are providing their employees with more than just a free lunch – including a $4000 per month Kombucha (energy drink) habit. The range of perks includes:
In office musical performances
Smoothie and latte barista visits
Manicures and shoe shiner
All company meetings in exciting locations such as Greece
Free concert tickets

Choosing Not to Update Your Workspace Could Cost You
An organization’s workspace directly impacts its bottom line. One study claims that employees lose 3 -5 hours a day due to interruptions, costing the US economy more than $500 billion a year. Creating spaces where people can collaborate, focus and socialize are critical.
The workspace needs to also be attractive to employees. According to one source, 78% of Millennials say workplace environments affect their decisions to stay at the job.
Sitting in an office chair every day has led to Americans gaining weight at their current job. This produces health issues such as organ damage, foggy brain, neck, shoulder and back strain and other serious issues. Employee absenteeism cost U.S. employers $225 billion in 2015.
Providing options such as sit-to-stand workstations, workspace zones or other innovative workspaces, may produce happier and healthier employees – who are 12% more productive, take 10 times fewer sick days and help their organizations outperform competitors by 20%

The New Rules For Business Success In The Digital Age
Innovation is the key to relevance and survival in the digital age. Organizations are searching for ways to attain and sustain leadership excellence. Here are five tips:
1. Being a visionary isn’t enough; be a futurist (Don’t be Nokia, be Apple)
2. Invest in open and flexible talent management systems (To convert possibilities into opportunities)
3. Be welcoming of the increasingly sensitized and connected world (Remember, someone is always watching)
4. Don’t marginalize the human factor (Innovation requires the astute application of humans, not technology)
5. Make diversity and inclusion a core part of the culture (A sense of belonging can encourage employees to new heights)

My new book, The Employee Experience Advantage (Wiley, March 2017) analyzes over 250 global organizations to understand how to create a place where people genuinely want to show up to work. Subscribe to the newsletter here.

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