Chancellor Jeremy Hunt proposes that working from the office should be the “default” choice, with remote work reserved for exceptional circumstances. He expressed concerns about the long-term impact of remote work on creativity, despite acknowledging its potential for exciting opportunities.
“The default approach will be office-based work unless there are valid reasons for not being in the office,” stated Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in flexible working becoming the standard for numerous employees.
Following the relaxation of lockdown measures, various sectors have witnessed a divergence in their approach. Some companies have required their employees to resume working from the office, while others have embraced a “hybrid” model, allowing individuals to work in the office on specific days and remotely on others.
Certain businesses have granted their employees the option of permanent remote work. According to recent official statistics, the majority of individuals (63.9%) do not work from home, with 21.4% engaging in a combination of office and remote work. Only 7.8% of workers maintain a permanent home-based work arrangement, as indicated by the survey.
Addressing the British Chambers of Commerce conference in London, the chancellor expressed that determining the approach would be up to individual businesses, but he emphasized his belief that, for many, the default option would be office-based work.
“I have concerns about the potential loss of creativity that comes with permanent remote work, where individuals miss out on those spontaneous moments of idea exchange,” he remarked.
“Businesses are advocating for employees to return to the office, unless there are valid reasons for remote work,” explained the Chancellor.
Mr. Hunt acknowledged the positive aspects of remote work, citing the exciting opportunities presented by tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams for conducting virtual meetings.
The chancellor also acknowledged that remote work can be beneficial for parents who require childcare and individuals with mobility challenges.
However, Andrew Mawson, founder of Advanced Workplace Associates, a firm that advocates for flexible working, expressed the view that the chancellor’s emphasis on returning to offices was misguided and that he was overlooking the more important aspects of the discussion.
Andrew Mawson responded, stating, “To encourage higher workforce participation, we should focus on aligning work with people’s lifestyles, leveraging technology, and embracing flexible work options.”
Deloitte’s survey revealed that a significant majority of UK Gen Zs (77%) and millennials (71%) would contemplate seeking new job opportunities if their employer mandated full-time office work.
According to Kate Sweeney, partner and human capital lead at Deloitte, younger workers have an expectation to have flexible work arrangements that align with their personal lives. Employers who acknowledge and support this preference are more likely to attract, retain, and motivate top talent from these generations.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation reported that in April, there were 1.1 million job postings that offered “flexible,” “hybrid,” or “remote” working options.
Source : bbc.com