The debate around remote and hybrid working continues to divide opinions as prominent business leaders voice concerns over its impact on productivity, while workers are reluctant to leave the flexibility it offers behind.
Former Marks & Spencer and Asda boss Lord Rose has criticised remote work, calling it part of the UK’s “general decline”. Speaking to BBC Panorama, he said, “We have regressed in this country in terms of working practices, productivity and in terms of the country’s wellbeing, I think, by 20 years in the last four.”
His remarks come as major companies such as Amazon, Boots, and JP Morgan end flexible arrangements, requiring head office employees to work in person daily. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 41 percent of Britons worked from home all or part of the time as of September 2024, but enthusiasm for hybrid working is waning among senior leadership.
A recent survey by KPMG revealed that 83 percent of UK CEOs anticipate a full return to office-based work within three years. Industry leaders argue that being physically present in the office fosters better decision-making, spontaneous creativity, and opportunities for career advancement.
Office Presence and Career Growth
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, has been a vocal advocate for in-office work, arguing it improves decision-making and collaboration. His views are echoed by other leaders, including WWP’s CEO, who said, “It’s easier to learn from each other; it’s a better way to mentor colleagues starting out in the industry; and it helps us win pitches as a truly integrated team.”
Nationwide CEO Debbie Crosbie noted the link between office presence and career advancement, adding that employees working in the office are more likely to be noticed and offered leadership opportunities – and that this is most likely to affect women who choose to work remotely due to family commitments. This shift follows Nationwide’s departure from its “work anywhere” policy, which previously allowed 13,000 non-branch employees to work remotely without restriction.
Nationwide’s updated hybrid policy requires most full-time employees to work in the office at least twice a week. Crosbie stated, “Being physically present in the office helps employees gain visibility – a key factor in career advancement.”
At the same time, she acknowledged the importance of flexibility, and the need for businesses to support working parents through initiatives like parental leave and remote work options.
Hybrid Work Productivity
Research continues to explore productivity differences between office-based and remote work. Professor Nicholas Bloom, an expert on work-from-home models, noted that fully remote work can harm productivity in some cases, while hybrid models involving three days in the office are comparable to fully office-based productivity levels.
Data from a survey commissioned by learning platform Kahoot! found that Among hybrid workers, 46 percent said they feel more productive in the office, while only 23 percent reported higher productivity at home. Sean D’Arcy, Kahoot!’s Chief Solutions Officer, spoke of the importance of balancing flexibility and collaboration in hybrid models.
“Rather than forcing employees back to the office, employers should focus on improving hybrid work by optimising meetings, keeping them shorter, more purposeful, and engaging,” he said.
Generational Attitudes Towards Remote Work
Attitudes toward hybrid work vary across generations, with younger workers expressing a stronger preference for remote work. Among 18-24-year-olds, 29 percent said they would be more likely to leave their job if required to spend additional days in the office. This figure rose to 34 percent among 25-34-year-olds, highlighting a generational divide in workplace expectations.
Catherine Sermon, Head of Public Engagement & Campaigns at Phoenix Insights, said, “The concept of the eight-hour working day and notions about where, when and how we should work to carry out our role effectively are over 200 years old.
“Hybrid working can be a game changer for workers, enabling them to balance work for a wide range of important reasons such as caring responsibilities, or better manage their physical and mental health.”
