The debate over remote working continues to stir emotions across the United Kingdom. Lord Rose, former leader of retail giants M&S and Asda, criticized home working, linking it to a "general decline" in the UK economy. His statement ignited a significant response, as more than 350 people shared their stories with the BBC. A substantial majority, 250 out of 357, expressed that working from home is essential, citing health and productivity benefits.
The trend of remote work has been on the rise since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Recent data from the Office for National Statistics highlighted that by January 2025, 15% of working adults in Great Britain were working from home, while 25% adopted a hybrid work model. Although the proportion of those working exclusively from home has decreased since 2021, hybrid arrangements have become commonplace.
Many individuals attribute improved productivity and health management to remote work flexibility. Rebecca Mitchell, a software engineer, shared that her productivity "increased drastically" since she began working from home a decade ago. She highlighted the importance of accommodating neurodiverse individuals, stating:
"Autism and ADHD are only now being accepted. People understand neurodivergence now like they didn't before. People like me rely on working from home in order to be a productive part of the workforce." – Rebecca Mitchell
Alba, another advocate for remote work, relies on it to manage chronic pain and travel sickness. She emphasized the necessity of a comfortable work environment:
"We are not lazy. We don't want to golf all day." – Alba
"I just want a comfortable environment where I can deal with my health issues," – Alba
"I'm not in senior management, I'm not asking for a high salary, I just don't want to be on sickness benefits and that's what will happen if I can't work from home," – Alba
However, not all experiences with remote work are positive. Hannah, a technical support manager, expressed feelings of isolation and disconnection:
"All the people who love working from home are in relationships, or have children, live with family – they're not 100% alone all the time like me." – Hannah
"It feels like I'm in a lockdown that's never going to end," – Hannah
Experts weigh in on the evolving work landscape. Clare McNeil from Timewise noted that flexible working policies could reduce staff turnover and sickness absence, offering benefits to both employees and employers. Mark Mortensen, an associate professor of organisational behaviour, highlighted the complexity of defining productivity, particularly in roles requiring creativity and collaboration.
Lord Rose's remarks sparked debate about the perceived regression in working practices:
"We have regressed in this country in terms of working practices, productivity and the country's wellbeing." – Lord Rose