Former retail chief Lord Stuart Rose has sparked controversy by claiming that working from home is creating a generation of people who are "not doing proper work." The ex-boss of Marks & Spencer and Asda expressed concerns about remote working's impact on the UK economy and workforce productivity.
In a recent interview with BBC Panorama, Lord Rose stated that the country has regressed "20 years in the last four" regarding working practices and productivity. His comments come as major companies like Amazon, Boots, and JP Morgan are requiring head office staff to return to full-time office work.
Current data from the Office for National Statistics shows that 26% of workers are in hybrid arrangements, 14% work fully remotely, and 41% commute to their workplace daily. The shift to remote work has transformed local economies, with office vacancies nearly doubling since the pandemic.
However, experts present contrasting views. Stanford University economist Professor Nicholas Bloom suggests that while full remote work can harm productivity for some workers, a three-day office schedule can be as productive as full-time office presence. His research indicates that younger employees in their teens and early twenties benefit from being in the office at least four days weekly for mentoring opportunities.
The debate extends into the public sector, where productivity levels are at their lowest since 1997, excluding pandemic years. Some government bodies are facing resistance from employees over return-to-office policies, with unions threatening strike action over mandatory office attendance.
Employment rights minister Justin Madders counters Lord Rose's view, citing growing evidence that remote working can boost productivity through increased worker motivation and by enabling more people to join the workforce through flexible arrangements.
The issue has become increasingly polarized, with the government currently working on legislation to strengthen employees' rights to request remote working, while some employers argue that face-to-face interaction remains essential for collaborative work and company culture.