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The Future of Work | Working the Future
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© Working the Future Ltd. 2016-2025. Limited company no. 10512378 registered in England and Wales

 Registered office address: 42 Longfield Drive, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5HE, United Kingdom

Working the Future, the Working the Future logotype and the arrowhead device are all registered trademarks of Working the Future Ltd.

Working the Future our sustainability diary

 

If you’ve had a mooch through our website, by now you will have noticed we’re a caring bunch. We care deeply about how humans experience work and the bearing their environment has on their ability to flourish and achieve their potential. We also care deeply about the state of our planet.

 

The climate emergency is one of the ten trends we track in our annual Foresight Focus report – it has massive bearing on how we will work in the future. Whether big business likes it or not, we anticipate distributed working as being a key feature of organisational resilience in the future of work.

 

Having been around the block a bit, we’ve seen just how extrapolative and mercenary some organisations can be. We also grew up with role models like Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, Julian Richer, founder of Richer Sounds, and Guy Watson, founder of Riverford Organic showing how business can step up and act as a force for good in the world. 

 

We want Working the Future to be a force for good in the world, and we take our responsibility of ethical leadership seriously.

 

This page is dedicated to our sustainability journey. Sustainability isn’t a destination or tick-list item. It’s about how we show up each day to make sure we leave the world a better place than we found it. We’ve deliberately set this page up as a diary, so we can update it each time we do something positive for our business ecosystem. We hope you find it useful and inspiring. 

blog

Relevant: Future-focused leadership – Louise Mowbray, 2023
Reading Room, FUTURE OF WORK, CONNECTION & BELONGING, TECHNOLOGY TRENDS, VITAL SKILLS, COMMUNICATION, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT,

Relevant: Future-focused leadership – Louise Mowbray, 2023

Cathryn Barnard

2025-03-27 10:12

It’s rare to find something that succinctly encapsulates all that is changing, and more importantly, what business leaders can do about it...

DEI and the return of the 'buy-cott'
Head Kandi, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, FUTURE OF WORK STRATEGY, MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE, DEI, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION,

DEI and the return of the 'buy-cott'

Admin

2025-03-26 20:01

Certain cohorts are deliberately supporting businesses committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies, via their consumption habits....

🎵Working five-to-nine, what a way to make a living...🎵
Head Kandi, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, FUTURE OF WORK STRATEGY, GEN Z, MULTIGENERATIONAL DYNAMICS, MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE, SIDE HUSTLE,

🎵Working five-to-nine, what a way to make a living...🎵

Admin

2025-03-26 19:02

Why some Gen Z-ers are ring-fencing their time to regain a sense of control in their time-poor lives.

Workers who are too trusting of GenAI less likely to scrutinise its outputs critically
Head Kandi, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, FUTURE OF WORK STRATEGY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, GENAI, GENERATIVE AI, TECHNOLOGY TRENDS,

Workers who are too trusting of GenAI less likely to scrutinise its outputs critically

Admin

2025-03-26 18:42

A recent study has found that workers who trust AI too readily are less likely to scrutinise its outputs critically...

WHAT I’M LEARNING ABOUT HOSTING A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
Blog, FUTURE OF WORK, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH, CONTINUOUS LEARNING, STRATEGIC FORESIGHT, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, VITAL SKILLS, LEARNING AGILITY, GROWTH MINDSET, COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE,

WHAT I’M LEARNING ABOUT HOSTING A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

Cathryn Barnard

2025-03-13 10:36

In late 2023, my colleagues Luis Suarez, Patrick Lodge and I embarked on an experiment. We set up an international online community of practice...

The rise of 'career catfishing' and 'revenge quitting' - and what you can do about them.
Head Kandi, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, INTERGENERATIONAL DYNAMICS, MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE, FUTURE OF WORK STRATEGY, REMOTE WORK, GEN Z,

The rise of 'career catfishing' and 'revenge quitting' - and what you can do about them.

Admin

2025-02-22 11:15

Two challenging trends that are set to rise over the course of this year...

Many remote workers say they’d likely leave jobs if no longer able to work from home
Head Kandi, HYBRID WORK, FUTURE OF THE OFFICE, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, FUTURE OF WORK STRATEGY, REMOTE WORK,

Many remote workers say they’d likely leave jobs if no longer able to work from home

Admin

2025-02-22 11:04

Are the companies implementing ROI mandates shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to churn?

WEF's Future of Jobs report 2025
Head Kandi, HYBRID WORK, FUTURE OF THE OFFICE, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, AI, FUTURE OF WORK STRATEGY,

WEF's Future of Jobs report 2025

Admin

2025-02-22 10:50

Do yourself a favour and download a copy of the WEF 2025 Future of Jobs report.

FOUR MORE VITAL SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK – PART 3 OF 4
Blog, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH, CONTINUOUS LEARNING, STRATEGIC FORESIGHT, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, VITAL SKILLS, LEARNING AGILITY, GROWTH MINDSET, RESILIENCE, ADAPTABILITY, GRIT,

FOUR MORE VITAL SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK – PART 3 OF 4

Cathryn Barnard

2025-02-22 10:28

In this second part of our four-part series on vital skills for the future of work, we dive into four more essential skills to prioritise and nurture for...

Let’s Talk: How to have better conversations – Nihal Arthanayake, 2022
Reading Room, FUTURE OF WORK, CONNECTION & BELONGING, TECHNOLOGY TRENDS, VITAL SKILLS, COMMUNICATION,

Let’s Talk: How to have better conversations – Nihal Arthanayake, 2022

Cathryn Barnard

2025-02-22 10:11

Nihal Arthanayake's first book explores the importance of conversation as an urgent antidote to the increasing amount of time spent communicating online.

Five hybrid work trends to watch this year
Head Kandi, HYBRID WORK, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, AI, HYBRID WORK STRATEGY, HYBRID OFFICE,

Five hybrid work trends to watch this year

Admin

2025-01-22 20:21

What are the five major trends set to shape hybrid working in 2025?

Are we looking at the Great Resignation 2.0?
Head Kandi, GREAT RESIGNATION, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, UPSKILLING, AI, WORKLIFE BLEND,

Are we looking at the Great Resignation 2.0?

Admin

2025-01-22 20:09

According to a recent report, 28% of workers are planning job changes —significantly higher than during 2022's Great Resignation...

How our workplaces are set to change during 2025
Head Kandi, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, AI, HYBRID OFFICE,

How our workplaces are set to change during 2025

Admin

2025-01-22 19:58

Will workplace changes be evolutionary rather than revolutionary during the course of this year?

I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique – Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, 2023
Reading Room, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, AI, SOCIAL IMPACT, CONNECTION & BELONGING, ENGAGEMENT, TECHNOLOGY TRENDS, VITAL SKILLS,

I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique – Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, 2023

Cathryn Barnard

2025-01-22 19:43

Rather than extoll the virtues of next-generation digital technology, I, Human provides a compelling analysis of what it is taking away...

FOUR MORE VITAL SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK – PART 2 OF 4
Blog, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, CONTINUOUS LEARNING, COLLABORATION, STRATEGIC FORESIGHT, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, VITAL SKILLS, LEARNING AGILITY, COMMUNICATION, INTERCONNECTEDNESS, AUTHENTICITY,

FOUR MORE VITAL SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK – PART 2 OF 4

Cathryn Barnard

2024-12-17 10:23

In this second part of our four-part series on vital skills for the future of work, we dive into four more essential skills to prioritise and nurture for...

Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy - a timely reminder why conscious consumption matters more than ever
Sustainability, SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE CRISIS, CSR, BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY, PEOPLE PLANET PROFIT, NET ZERO,

Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy - a timely reminder why conscious consumption matters more than ever

Patrick Lodge

2024-12-03 09:43

This film starkly highlights how collective resistance is needed to drive change - and hold corporations accountable for their environmental and social impact.

FOUR VITAL SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK – PART 1 OF 4
Blog, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, CONTINUOUS LEARNING, STRATEGIC FORESIGHT, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, VITAL SKILLS, LEARNING AGILITY,

FOUR VITAL SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK – PART 1 OF 4

Cathryn Barnard

2024-10-29 11:14

To label certain skills as ‘soft’ underplays their importance. We argue these skills are in fact vital – and essential for the ongoing healthy flourishing of...

The rise of 'conscious unbossing': why the idea of middle management gives Gen Z the ick
Head Kandi, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE, MULTIGENERATIONAL DYNAMICS, GEN Z,

The rise of 'conscious unbossing': why the idea of middle management gives Gen Z the ick

Admin

2024-10-28 11:49

Welcome to the age of Gen Z 'conscious unbossing' - and the latest challenge for organisations' succession-planning endeavours.

Might 'sense foraging' help alleviate modern life’s anxiety epidemic?
Head Kandi, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH, WORKFORCE WELLBEING, ENGAGEMENT,

Might 'sense foraging' help alleviate modern life’s anxiety epidemic?

Admin

2024-10-28 11:33

'Sense foraging' – mindfully attending to our bodily sensations – is on the rise. What might that mean for stressed-out workers?

What AI hallucinations mean for organisations
Head Kandi, FUTURE OF WORK, 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP, AI, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, TECHNOLOGY TRENDS,

What AI hallucinations mean for organisations

Admin

2024-10-28 11:23

GenAI hallucinations can range from outright falsehoods to subtle inaccuracies.