(Adam Peck/PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)More people are working from home in London than in any other region in Britain, figures show.
A survey by the Office for National Statistics found that at least 50 per cent of employees in London continue to work from home.
However, there appears to be a huge divide between London and the rest of the UK.
Only 18 to 20 per cent of people are still shunning the office all or part of the time in Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland the North East.
The stark contrast is partially because London has a larger concentration of white-collar jobs.
Chetan Patel, from recruitment firm Hays London City, told the Daily Mail: “It’s no surprise to see that hybrid working is more in practice across London, as firms can’t afford not to offer some form of flexibility in a competitive hiring market.”
The wider picture reveals that a third of office staff in the UK have not returned to offices since the March 2020 lockdown.
It comes despite the government in England scrapping work from home guidance in January as Plan B restrictions were axed.
Research from insurance brokerage Gallagher also reveals that a third of the 1,000 business leaders surveyed said employees are unwilling to return to the office even on a part-time basis.
Neil Hodgson, of Gallagher, said: “The return to workplaces is a complicated task for senior leaders at UK businesses.
“Keeping everyone happy can be challenging and, while some employees feel that they have no need to be in the office, there is an awareness that leadership needs to implement policies consistently.
“But many businesses remain uncertain just how far they can legally mandate the return to workplaces, leading to concerns about litigation and complaints.”
