AirTalk for Thursday, July 11, 2013

Contact: Producers Joel Patterson, Jasmin Tuffaha, Fiona Ng

626-583-5100

 

SCHEDULE FOR AIRTALK WITH LARRY MANTLE

Thursday, July 11, 2013

 

11:06 –11:20

Topic: OPEN

 

11:20 –11:30

Topic: Calif. lawmakers call for investigation into sterilization of female inmates:

Guest: TBA

 

11:30 -11:40

Topic: Mayor Eric Garcetti talks review of city’s top department heads, job creation and more

Mayor Eric Garcetti told all of Los Angeles’ department chiefs that they need to reapply for their jobs. It’s part of the new mayor’s efforts to make City Hall more efficient. The mayor wants to hear from city managers on how they can better incorporate the use of technology in how the city is run and to ensure the channels of communication between residents and government departments are open. Job creation is another big concern for the new mayor. Garcetti has said that he wants to remake Los Angeles as the film production capital of the country and that he plans to appoint a Film Czar to achieve that aim. Larry checks in with Mayor Garcetti on those topics and more.

Guest: Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles  

 

11:40-12:00

Topic: Is the "Master Cleanse" a detox diet or dangerous deprivation? Consumer interest in “detox” drinks and pricey juices has skyrocketed in recent years. The “master cleanse” version has you forego food for days at a time in place of water, lemon juice, cayenne and honey or agave syrup. The goal is all around better health, including slimming down and boosting energy. But is "cleansing" safe? What toxins does it get rid of? Do the positive results last just a few days? Are there negative results that last longer?

Guest: TBA

 

12:06 – 12:20

Topic: Unclear fate for Immigration Reform bill in Congress:

Guest: Lisa Mascaro, Congressional Reporter, Los Angeles Times

Guest: TBA, POLITICO Reporter

 

12:20 – 12:40

Topic: Should credit unions be allowed to continue receiving tax exempt status despite acting more and more like big banks?

Guest: TBA

 

12:40 – 1:00

Topic: Do open-plan offices decrease productivity?: Employers are constantly struggling to figure out how to make employees happy, increase workplace productivity, and save on costs. More and more companies have looked for solutions in workplace design strategies, and according to the International Management Facility Association, 70 percent of U.S. employees now work in open-plan offices. One of the main advantages to an open-plan design is that it cuts down building costs and increases the use of space. Rather than cramming workers in tiny walled offices, an open-plan utilizes the same area in a less constricting and claustrophobic way. Proponents also say that in a digital age, an open-plan office allows for more face-to-face collaboration, encourages creativity and increases employee satisfaction through social connections. A 1996 research study by the University of Southern California found that a collaborative environment through an open-floor plan actually increased productivity. In manufacturing jobs, that productivity was measurable with over a 400 percent increase. With statistics like that, it’s no surprise Facebook is planning a Frank Gehry-designed 100,000 square feet open-plan office in New York. However, a new study by design firm Gensler shows that open-plan offices are actually decreasing productivity. Their “2013 U.S. Workplace Survey” found that three out of four workers are “struggling to work effectively” because of difficulty focusing, resulting in longer hours to complete tasks. According to a statement by Gensler’s co-Chief Executive Officer Diane Hoskins, “Analysis of findings from our 2013 study confirms that employees who can effectively focus are 57% more able to collaborate, 88% more able to learn, and 42% more able to socialize in their workplace than their peers who are unable to focus. They are more satisfied with their jobs, more satisfied with their workplaces, and see themselves as higher performing.” Do you work in an open-plan office? Do you have trouble focusing? What’s the balance between collaboration and personal space? Is productivity actually decreasing? How important is workplace design? What works and what doesn’t? What would you like to change?

Guest: Janet Pogue, Principal in Gensler’s Workplace Practice; leader of Gensler’s “2013 U.S. Workplace Survey”

Guest: Ann Majchrzak (MY-shock), Professor of Information Systems at USC’s Marshall School of Business, author of the highly cited 1996 workplace study “Breaking the Functional Mind-Set in Process Organization”

 

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Joel Patterson

Senior Producer, AirTalk

626-583-5375 office

858-349-2205 cell

@joelerson