Millions of people will need to work from home for the 'foreseeable future', the government announced today.
Boris Johnson's 'roadmap' for easing the lockdown says those who cannot work from home should start returning from Wednesday.
But for those who can work at home, there is no end date for when they should go back to the office.
Government advisors have previously warned home working could have to become the new normal until there is a vaccine.
And today's roadmap appeared to confirm it could become permanent.
The document said: "For the foreseeable future, workers should continue to work from home rather than their normal physical workplace, wherever possible.
"This will help minimise the number of social contacts across the country and therefore keep transmissions as low as possible.
"All those who work are contributing taxes that help pay for the healthcare provision on which the UK relies.
'People who are able to work at home make it possible for people who have to attend workplaces in person to do so while minimising the risk of overcrowding on transport and in public places."
The document went on to say working from home has "significant benefits" for society - like reducing the carbon footprint of the nation.
"The Government will need to continue to ask all employers and operators of communal spaces to be innovative in developing novel approaches," it went on.
"UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will welcome grant applications for proposals to develop new technologies and approaches that help the UK mitigate the impact of this virus."
It comes as the Government unveiled its most detailed plan yet for how it will begin to ease the country out of lockdown.
Non-essential shops will begin to reopen from June at the same time as primary schools - followed by limited reopenings of cafes, restaurants, cinemas and places of worship from July.
But the 60 page document does not include a date that families can expect to be able spending private time with their loved ones again.
"Much of what is desirable is not yet possible," it warns before adding, "a 'zero risk' approach will not work in these unprecedented times."
And it warns that while the phase for reopening pubs and hairdressers begins from July 4, it may take far longer than that for them to be open.
Secondary school pupils look unlikely to return before September. Only Years 10 and 12 are expected back in a limited way before the summer for some handover work.
In the meantime, however, the government will urge more key workers' children and vulnerable pupils who to attend school.
Many of them are not currently attending even though they're allowed to, with schools at 2% capacity.
