7 OCTOBER | LONDON 2024
SEPTEMBER 12TH - 14TH
The O2, LONDON
Future of Work
Your weekly CogX briefing on HR tech, automation, and the workplace
How can AI boost your productivity?
In an ironic turn, remote work company Zoom is requiring employees to come into the office twice a week. With the policy change, Zoom joins a roster of big tech companies — including Google, Meta, Microsoft and Apple — that are taking firmer stances on remote work.
Remote work enthusiasts are resisting the call back to the office — perhaps because they enjoy greater job satisfaction than in-office workers, a new survey finds. Has your company found the right balance between office and remote work? Are you more productive in the office? Reply to this email and tell us.
Meanwhile, media giant Thomson Reuters is paving the way for the responsible use of AI at work. The company uses the technology to enhance employees’ productivity, rather than replace jobs. Workplaces that don’t leverage AI risk falling behind — and the same goes for employees.
We explore how you can start leveraging AI at work, why VR use in the workplace can put employees at risk, and more in the CogX Must-Reads.
CogX Must Reads
How to make AI work for you
AI will drastically change the way most of us work, but it’s a shift we’re largely unprepared for: a recent survey found that adoption has so far been mostly limited to the C-suite. From taking short courses to integrating AI tools into simple work tasks, here’s how to capitalise on the opportunity.
Remote work company Zoom wants its staff back in the office
Staff who live within 50 miles of an office will be required to come into work twice a week. Zoom became synonymous with remote work during the pandemic, and may have profited from it more than any other company: its revenue skyrocketed from £400 million in 2020 to £2 billion in 2021
Future of The Office
VR can lead to health problems in the workplace
Tech giants like Microsoft and Meta are touting mixed reality as the future of the workplace. But studies find that 80% of VR users report mild to severe effects, including disorientation, dizziness, nausea, diminished memory and lower attention span.
Office workers are burning out faster than remote and hybrid employees
They also have the lowest levels of happiness and job satisfaction, a new survey found. Remote workers report the highest level of happiness and are more likely to recommend their workplace to a friend.
AI and Automation
Thomson Reuters uses AI to augment jobs
The media organisation sees AI as a way to automate the mundane, repetitive parts of jobs, improve existing products, and help customers find information faster. Leaders at the company believe that AI cannot replace the critical thinking, creativity and news judgement that humans bring to the table
Want a job working with AI? You’ll need these soft skills to succeed
Most AI jobs require extensive engineering or data science skills. But soft skills will be crucial to getting AI right: emotional intelligence and analytical judgement are needed to determine when to leverage AI versus human skills. Adaptability to new technologies is also important.
HR Tech
How to build the best HR tech stack for your organisation
Your tech stack significantly impacts employees’ efficiency and productivity — but choosing the right software, apps, platforms, and tools can be challenging. Consider ease of adoption, integration, and scalability as you make your decisions.
The average workday just got half an hour shorter
In the US, time spent at work decreased by 37 minutes last year — but productivity levels remained the same. This could indicate that managers are more mindful of work-life balance post-pandemic.
Top Stories
In case you missed it
Organisational design expert Mark Mortensen outlines three essential factors HR leaders must consider when designing their remote work policy:
We'd love to hear your thoughts on this week’s Issue and what you’d like to see more of.