// John Lewis to introduce flexible working for all head office staff

// The decision comes after the government announced plans to ease lockdown restrictions from July 19

// John Lewis joins a long list of other businesses that have introduced flexible working for staff

The parent company of John Lewis and Waitrose, John Lewis Partnership has confirmed it will introduce flexible working for all staff at the company’s head offices.

The decision comes after the government announced plans to ease lockdown restrictions from July 19, which include an end to the requirement that employees should work from home where they can.

“If restrictions are lifted on July 19, we won’t tell our head office partners where to work,” John Lewis Partnership executive operations director, Andrew Murphy said.

READ MORE: John Lewis to build 10,000 homes above Waitrose stores

“The pandemic has forced us all to rethink the norm of five days in an office.

“We will continue to support and enable our partners as they figure out how and where they work best for the type of work they do.

“I don’t believe anyone can make confident assertions about how this will play out in future years.”

John Lewis joins a long list of other businesses that have introduced flexible working for staff, including Asda, which announced last week staff will be able to work from any location best suited to their job.

The Partnership said it has taken feedback from its staff, and adopted a fluid and flexible working policy.

The majority of partners said they are more productive at home but they want to come together at times, when working on big projects.

According to the retailer, 72 meeting rooms at its two head offices in London and Bracknell now have audio and video capabilities.

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