A psychology professor from Birmingham City University (BCU) has criticised comments that working from home is not ‘proper work’
The latest criticism of remote and hybrid working came from Justin King, former head of Sainsburys and chair of Asda, who told the BBC Panorama programme that working from home was creating a generation that is not doing ‘proper work’.
King said: ‘We are creating a whole generation, and probably a generation beyond that of people, who are used to actually not doing what I call proper work.’
When pressed about benefits for parents with young children who want flexibility, King retorted that ‘people who work in service industries like retail have to go to work, and others don’t. What’s different – they have children, they have problems, they have issues, you deal with it.’
King, who is currently chair of Allwyn Entertainment and Dexters, and non executive chair of Itsu Grocery, is not alone in voicing concerns about home working.
Bosses of major companies like Boots, Amazon and JPMorgan have been demanding a return to the office.
This trend is also reflected in accountancy firms with PwC requiring that staff now spend three days in the office or in client-facing meetings, although many accountancy firms still offer a much more flexible working environment. Lubbock Fine, for example, allows an ultra-flexible smart working approach allowing staff to ‘work when you like, where you like’.
The government plans to introduce flexible working by default in the upcoming Employment Rights Bill, currently going through committee stage in parliament, although whether this will protect home working is up for debate as the proposed reasons to refuse employee requests are very similar to existing legislation.
Last October, the Cabinet Office told all Whitehall departments that staff will have to attend the office for 60% of their working week or be at business related meetings. At the time, HMRC said it operated hybrid working as ‘part of their approach to being a modern and flexible employer like many other organisations and means that we can attract and retain the talent we need to deliver for our customers’. However, there has been widespread criticism that remote working has impacted HMRC service levels, something the tax authority rejects.
Craig Jackson, professor of occupational health psychology at BCU, said that workers are often more productive when given flexibility in how they work, and that pushes towards ‘traditional’ working environments could put people off certain jobs.
‘The current UK industrial decline is not a result of more staff working from home,’ said Professor Jackson. ‘What many industry experts seem to struggle with is the reality that workers, when not watched over or in the office, will continue to work productively when trusted to do so.
‘We are seeing more male bosses who want a return to the office, compared to their female counterparts. When we think of traditional male bosses, there may be a sense of wanting more control over their employees, something that is difficult to achieve with remote working unless tracking software is installed.
‘There are very few female CEOs being vocal against this issue, this may be down to how different genders view workplaces and their purpose differently, or working mums seeing the benefits of flexible work options that allow them to be productive in professional and family settings.’
Research by Speakers Corner showed that this view was reflected across all age groups, with only 5% disagreeing that a hybrid working model did not support a good work-life balance.’
Despite attempts to demand office-based working, the stark fall in London Underground use on a Friday illustrates changing work patterns with passenger numbers still down 20% on pre-pandemic levels.
Nick Gold, managing director at Speakers Corner said: ‘Whether you’re looking at Gen Z leaders in their early 20s or Gen X leaders in their 50s, there’s a shared understanding of the importance of work-life balance.
‘Ultimately, this generational alignment suggests that flexible working arrangements are becoming a universal expectation in the modern workplace, transcending age barriers.’
But home working does have its downsides, warned Professor Jackson. ‘For many workers there is subtle or unconscious pressure to work more hours at home too. “Zoom-fatigue”, less face-to-face socialising, and fewer structured breaks, can lead to burnout just as it can in an office environment.
‘Homeworking brings with it a unique set of risk to be considered. Like everything else in workplaces, it is about balance. And with more companies experimenting with four-day working weeks, with positive results, we may see further progressive changes in the working world.’
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Peninsula Team, Peninsula Team
(Last updated )
Peninsula Team, Peninsula Team
(Last updated )
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