Lord Stuart Rose, former CEO of M&S and ex-Asda chairman, has slammed remote working, claiming it is creating a generation of employees who are “not doing proper work.”
Speaking to BBC Panorama, Rose argued that the practice, particularly post-pandemic, is damaging productivity across sectors, with retail being one of the hardest-hit industries.
His comments come after Asda called its workforce of over 5,000 head office staff back into the office for at least three days a week last year.
Speaking at the time, an Asda spokesperson said the grocers updated approach brings it “in line with our competitors and the wider market”.
Several high-profile retailers – including Amazon, Boots, and Frasers – have also called their staff back into the office full-time, signalling a shift away from remote working.
“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,” Lord Rose said.
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According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 26% of the workforce hybrid work, 13% are fully remote, and 41% remain fully office-based.
The shift to remote working has had significant effects on local economies.
Industry estimates show that vacant office spaces have nearly doubled since the pandemic, and businesses that relied on office workers, such as dry-cleaners, have been impacted.
While Lord Rose expressed concerns, Professor Nicholas Bloom, a work-from-home expert from Stanford University, noted that spending three days in the office per week can be as productive as full-time office work. However, he suggested that employees in their teens and early twenties should spend more time in the office for better career mentoring.
Meanwhile, employment rights minister Justin Madders told BBC Panorama that there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that remote work can be more productive and beneficial for economic growth, offering employees better motivation and flexibility.
In the public sector, where productivity is the lowest since 1997, unions have been pushing back against policies requiring more office attendance.
At the ONS, some employees have threatened to strike over return-to-office requirements, citing benefits such as better work-life balance and reduced commuting time.
The ONS, however, has stated that face-to-face interaction is essential for building relationships and supporting collaboration.
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