Productivity, technology and working anywhere

Client: Citrix

This study follows on from our 2016 investigation into Working Anywhere which highlighted the tipping point of mobile working in the UK. This project seeks to understand the complex relationship between technology and productivity and how businesses can drive growth through adopting new ways of working.

Gender equality in the legal profession

Client: Queen's Counsel Appointments

The Work Foundation are supporting initiatives in gender equality by working with Queen’s Counsel Appointments to conduct a study to understand the reasons why a lower proportion of women than men apply for appointment to Queen’s Counsel.

Understanding the supply of and demand for cyber skills in the UK

Client: Department for Culture, Media & Sport

Commissioned by Government (DCMS) and undertaken in partnership with Databuild and Security Lancaster, The Work Foundation has been investigating the supply and demand for cyber-security skills in the UK.

An audit of the skills challenges facing the UK's film industries

Client: British Film Institute

The Work Foundation was commissioned by the British Film Institute (BFI) to undertake a comprehensive audit of the skills challenges facing the UK’s film industries. The project sought to understand the current skills gaps in film and adjacent industries and where these gaps are likely to be in the future.

Health at work policy unit

Client: Napp Pharmaceutical Group

The Health at Work Policy Unit (HWPU) provides evidence-based policy recommendations and commentary on contemporary issues around health, wellbeing and work. It draws on The Work Foundation’s substantial expertise in workforce health, its reputation in the health and wellbeing arena and its relationships with policy makers.

Ready for work

Clients: Novartis International AG (founding and lead supporter) and Merck (co-supporter)

Currently in Europe there is an estimated 700,000 people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), 70% of them diagnosed during their prime working years. However, many people with MS find themselves outside of the labour market, despite being able and willing to continue working.

Staff engagement and wellbeing in the NHS

Clients: The Health Foundation

The Work Foundation is conducting research to help establish a ‘hard business case’ for the development of employee engagement interventions in the NHS with the hypothesis that improving staff engagement will lead to improved patient outcomes and improved productivity and performance in the health service.

Reviewing the effectiveness of employee assistance programmes

Clients: EAPA

Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) are among the most commonly used wellbeing interventions in the UK. Given the large potential ‘reach’ of this kind of intervention, and the possible impact on employee wellbeing, The Work Foundation is conducting research to understand the ‘state of the market’ for the use and effectiveness of EAPs in the UK.

Identifying a "tipping point" of mobility

Clients: Hotwire

The Work Foundation was commissioned to explore the idea that this type of working may be reaching a “tipping point” – whereby it becomes more prevalent than traditional office-based work - and how the benefits could be made to outweigh the downsides for both individuals and employers.

In search of the 'gig-economy'

The concept of the “gig-economy” reflects two fundamental trends in the labour market – the use of digital platform technologies to extend the reach of service provision and the intensification of fragmentation into self-employment, and micro firms. Our research seeks to establish the argument for greater clarity of definitions to enable effective intervention and regulation to challenge exploitation and to prevent the ‘blunt’ policies which destroy good work.