The Know Daily - Wednesday 29 January 2025

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Bird collisions have dropped by 95% at the McCormick Place Convention Centre in Chicago, thanks to innovative dotted film that alerts birds when they’re approaching glass. The bird-safe glaze was dubbed “monumental” by a spokesperson from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and is being steadily adopted across various buildings throughout the US and UK.

🏢 Work-life balance

Employees value work-life balance above pay, a recent study has found.

What did the report find?
The annual review by international recruitment company Randstad – which surveys workers across 35 different countries – found that 83% of respondents cited work-life balance as the most important factor of a job. This tied with job security at 83% and was slightly above pay at 82%. While the difference is small, it's the first time in the review’s 22-year history that work-life balance has come out on top. 

What’s more, nearly 60% of respondents said they wouldn’t accept a job if it affected their work-life balance. Plus, workers are willing to campaign or leave a job if their expectations aren’t met – 44% said they’ve quit a toxic workplace, an increase of 33% from last year.

An emphasis on flexibility was also important for respondents across the board – suggesting that this work style has become the norm. 64% of respondents said their jobs provided them with more freedom in terms of location, and 71% reported more variable working hours, up from 57% last year. 

Why?
“Talent today has multifaceted expectations,” said a spokesperson from Randstad. People are looking for workplaces that align with their circumstances, aspirations and personal values, he added. Plus, new norms like hybrid working – a mix of commuting to work and working from home in any given week – has risen. This work culture shift has given people more time to rest, exercise and work on their wellbeing, renewing appreciation for having additional personal time, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Anything else I should know?
Despite a sizable preference for part-time in-person working, a sense of community also emerged as an important characteristic. Increasingly, employees seek “purpose and connection” in their professional lives, and the vast majority of respondents want their workplace to foster a sense of belonging.

🛍️ Changing high streets: WHSmith is in talks to sell its high street stores after 230 years in operation.

• The bigger story: This doesn’t mean WHSmith is disappearing entirely – the retailer is looking to focus on its travel stores across airports, railway stations and motorway service areas. However, it does highlight the increase in businesses closing their high street shops.

🌳 Planting project: More than 2,500 trees have been planted in Devon, in an effort to create a “Celtic rainforest”.

🎨 New renaissance: The Louvre art museum in Paris is getting a major overhaul, including a new exhibition space for the Mona Lisa.

💰 Pay to stay: This city has approved a tourist tax for overnight visitors – the first charge of its kind in the UK.

📖 Modern masterpiece: The prestigious Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction has been awarded to this novel.

✈️ Supersonic speed: A civilian plane has broken the sound barrier for the first time.

🐬 Swimming south: A rare “superpod” of more than 1,500 dolphins were spotted leaping and gliding along the California coastline.

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