Korn Ferry: The Caution Flag is Out

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The numbers couldn't be better. By all accounts, and according to recent data, Britain's economy is growing at a surprisingly brisk pace. But you might not know that from how firms here are acting. Read more here.

Diego Torres Silvestre from Sao Paulo, Brazil, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Korn Ferry: Return to Office—the UK Version

By SIMON CONSTABLE 

It’s called a “five days a week” policy—as in the firm asking employees to come in all week long. But stubbornly, it’s become a policy that’s far from universal.

Despite a recent uptick in people coming into the office—with more firms requiring it—many British companies are still struggling with return-to-office plans. According to the most recent data from Remit Consulting, office occupancy hit its highest level in two years, but still remains at only about 35%, meaning that about half of employees are coming into offices. (UK offices were at an estimated 80%-occupancy level prior to the pandemic.) Read more here.

King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

#France: Paradise with sunshine days in the 80s and cooling thunderstorm nights, bringing in the hay crop, awaiting wheat, sunflowers and the vineyards. @BatchelorShow Occitane

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Listen here.

Thomas Bresson from Belfort, France, 

CC BY 2.0, 

via Wikimedia Commons

#Green: Green electricity is expensive, unready, futuristic. @RealConstable @BatchelorShow Occitane, France.

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Listen here.

Neurdein , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Suddenly California Now Loves The Press. 3 Years Ago They Hurt It

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Will the real California Assembly please stand up!

In the space of just a few years, California’s Democrat-heavy lawmakers have switched from introducing measures that hurt journalism and journalists to now wanting to help them. Read more here.

Briefings Magazine: The Long Road to Green Energy

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Energy policy has gotten weird lately. Coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, came back after an apparent near-death experience. In 2021, delegates at the COP26 climate summit demanded we ditch using coal, followed by less-toxic natural gas. But a year later, long-term green energy proponent Germany increased its use of coal-generated electricity by 13 percent.

Meanwhile, Britain’s government banned natural gas fracking and approved the first new mine in decades. The US isn’t immune, either. The Biden administration’s proposal to eliminate natural gas stoves would mean using electricity, 22 percent of which is coal-generated. The question is, what next? A long tricky slog, experts say. Read more here.

Flashback: Debrief Feb 1, 2009 We're all Socialists Now

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

This continues a series of video flashbacks filmed in the depths of the 2007-2009 financial crisis when John Batchelor and I discussed what was going on in the world.

We had minimal equipment and almost no time for video editing. But we did have mental space for creativity.

As these 20 vintage videos roll out, more contemporary ones will get posted. Stay tuned.

If inclined, please feel free to follow on YouTube.

Watch here.