‘This can’t be a good thing in the long term’

Steve Feery, 65, care home director from Cheshire

For the first time in my long career, I’ve been working from home since March last year, as the finance director of a care home – and I’ve really enjoyed it.

I’m more productive, I’ve been able to eat more healthily, get fresh air more often and take my dog out for a walk.

I’ve done 40 years of sitting at a desk in an office, so it’s a bonus for me to be able to exercise outside during the day and avoid the commute.

I don’t think the world of work will ever be the same. Businesses have now realised that they can trust people to do their work from home.

I’ve never been great with rigid hours like 9-to-5, so I’ve liked the flexibility and being able to do things on my own terms.

I think I’ll carry on doing that for as long as I can – I’ll return to the office in June, but only when I need to.

I’m coming towards the end of my career, so for me the perks of office working are mostly social, like seeing colleagues and motivating my staff face-toface.

I do think that workers at the start of their careers might risk becoming invisible if they never come into the office. Working from home week after week can’t be a good thing in the long term. When I was in my twenties and thirties and climbing the corporate ladder, I’d have said it was really important to put on smart clothes and meet your bosses in the office.

For me, as I’m nearing retirement, I think it’s good to show my face in the office every now and then, but also to show solidarity with my colleagues.