Firms are now assessing how to tackle the issue of remote versus office working once lockdown restrictions are eased
(Picture: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Rishi Sunak has faced some criticism for encouraging people to return to their offices as soon as coronavirus restrictions are lifted on 19 July.
The chancellor told The Telegraph: “I think for young people, especially that ability to be in your office, be in your workplace and learn from others more directly, is something that’s really important and I look forward to us slowly getting back to that.”
In doing so he sparked backlash. Some who believe the restrictions are being lifted too soon expressed concerns about people mixing inside without masks:
Rishi Sunak tells people to go back to the office, but this time without masks.
— Sarah Hurst (@Life_Disrupted) July 8, 2021
Others thought it would cause infections to rise - over 32,000 cases were reported today.
With 100,000 daily infections? Not likely. You need to keep as many people away from the workplace as possible to mitigate the risk of losing large swathes to covid. You'd only need a few positive cases at the same time and you could potentially lose a large percentage of staff
— JP McQueen 🇪🇺 (@JPMcQu) July 8, 2021
Anyone who returns to an office before infection rates are back to very low levels should expect to be infected. Best to leave it until after September
— Ian (@IanStockport) July 8, 2021
Makes no sense on many levels.Covid rising exponentially, WFH much better for environment, many are more productive & for many it means an improved quality of life.The office works for some esp younger ppl but encouraging it to help commercial property prices is highly cynical.
— KS (@ks_1968) July 9, 2021
Another point people made was that offices could work with hybrid models with some people working from home and others in the office on a flexible basis:
One day a week maybe but only if it is really crucial for say specific team building/ creative planning session/training that can't be done virtually/ staff member needing emotional support, sort of thing. Hybrid and flexible working is here to stay. Admin will be done at home.
— Twiggy (@Hamptondener) July 8, 2021
Why? We are moving to a hybrid model going forward
— Glostermeteor 🔶 (@Glostermeteor) July 8, 2021
It is not the first time Sunak has waxed lyrical about the office. In an interview with the Telegraph, in March, Sunak claimed staff may quit their jobs if they are not allowed to work from the office and said that homeworking is no substitute for an office environment with “people riffing off each other”.
He said: “You can’t beat the spontaneity, the team building, the culture that you create in a firm or an organisation from people actually spending physical time together.”
It appeared that not everyone had as strong relationships with their colleagues as Sunak clearly does, and writing on Twitter, various people proceeded to rip into his plans and mock him for overestimated the extent to which people like their offices:
I can tell Rishi, ever with his finger on the pulse of the people, that he’s right, office workers are just bristling to do the school run as a frantic morning assault on sanity before spending 1-2hours on public transport to get back into that office and catch a cold. 🙌
— LCD Views (@LcdViews) March 26, 2021
Has Rishi ever met actual people? https://t.co/N6RSB7NiBs
— Nathan (@nathanmcfedries) March 26, 2021
this pandemic has taken so much from us but the thing i miss most is saying "not much, bit quiet. you?" in the work kitchen every monday. bravo rishi for working round the clock to bring that back
— xX jOeL gOlBy Xx (@joelgolby) March 26, 2021
Rishi Sunak: There is nothing fellow humans love more than cramming themselves into a hotbox of disease for 3-4 hours a day in order to get into a slightly larger pit of despair
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) March 26, 2021
Others expressed suspicion at his motives:
Translation
— Cirian75 #YNWA 62.5% 🇬🇧 25% 🇳🇱 12.5% 🇦🇺 (@cirian75) March 26, 2021
Rishi Sunak mates have office rental property that is near empty and their rental income has plummeted.
There is zero risk of people working from home quitting.
Working from home is more efficient
Employers get more work out of their staff
While Rishi won the hearts and stomachs of the nation last year by introducing the Eat out to Help Out scheme, it seems that on this occasion his finger is not as firmly on the pulse.
