Signal file: what this week’s headlines reveal about designing work that lasts
From onboarding and office architecture to AI’s emotional toll, this week’s signals highlight the systems, spaces and strategies shaping sustainable performance
Staying ahead in the rapidly evolving world of work means tuning in to the signals shaping the future workplace. In this weekly column, we highlight the latest news on our radar and its implications on business.
This week’s stories offer a sharp look at how organisations are building – and eroding – long-term value. In-person onboarding improves remote outcomes, yet AI threatens the motivation that fuels engagement. Living buildings hint at a regenerative future for the office, while entry-level pathways in Big Tech are quietly disappearing. Together, these signals point to a larger question: how do we design systems that sustain not just productivity, but people?
In-person onboarding boosts remote outcomes
A new NBER study reveals a simple intervention with lasting impact. Fully remote workers who received in-person onboarding showed significantly higher productivity and retention rates than those onboarded remotely. The study, based on Turkish call-centre employees, also found that remote work boosted overall productivity and gender diversity when compared to in-person setups.
In action: Hybrid doesn’t need to be half-hearted. Use in-person onboarding as a strategic anchor – blending early connection with long-term flexibility to support productivity, loyalty, and inclusion.
AI boosts productivity – but drains motivation
Harvard Business Review highlights a growing tension in their new research. While generative AI enhances task efficiency and performance, it can also dampen intrinsic motivation and increase boredom, especially on tasks not supported by AI. This emerging side effect raises a critical question for organisations: how to sustain human engagement in an AI-optimised workflow.
In action: Pair AI tools with redesigned roles. To keep teams energised, balance automation with purpose and give employees space for creativity, ownership, and work that feels meaningful beyond the machine.
Living buildings reimagine the office as organism
At the 2025 Venice Biennale, ecoLogicStudio is showcasing a prototype for ‘living architecture’ – a biotechnological office façade powered by microalgae. The installation captures carbon, generates oxygen, and visualises pollution data in real time. Rather than treating the office as static infrastructure, the project frames buildings as dynamic ecological interfaces, actively responding to – and remediating – their environments.
In action: Treat buildings as evolving counterparts, not dumb containers. Explore bio-integrated design to align workplace architecture with environmental systems, turning real estate into a regenerative asset.
AI shuts the graduate door in Big Tech
New research reported by TechCrunch shows Big Tech firms cut entry-level roles by 25% in 2024, while boosting experienced hires by 27%. As automation reshapes workflows, companies are prioritising AI-ready expertise – leaving fewer pathways for early-career talent to enter the industry. The pipeline is narrowing just as the demand for AI fluency rises.
In action: Rethink early-career development. Instead of eliminating junior roles, design entry points that build AI literacy from the ground up and create space for learning, experimentation, and future-ready growth.
