Give us clear ruling on return to desk struggling firms tell ministers

BUSINESSES crippled by the pandemic last night demanded clarity from the Government on its stance on workers returning to the office.

Working from home has had a devastating impact on town centres, where cafes and shops rely on office staff to keep them afloat. The Government yesterday said it backed a ‘gradual and cautious’ return to the workplace – despite calls from senior ministers for civil servants to get back to their desks as soon as possible.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng yesterday suggested people in the office were more likely to be promoted – although he also said it would be wrong to issue a ‘diktat’ telling people how long to spend in the office. He told Sky News: ‘I think that if you’re trying to make a career it probably makes sense to actually meet colleagues and actually build a network, and learn from other people, and I think that’s probably best done in the workplace.’

The comments prompted calls for clear guidance from the Government.

Kate Nicholls, of UK Hospitality, said ministers needed to provide ‘greater clarity’ and pushed for a return to the office next month. ‘It’s not too late to save those businesses provided we get that move back in the office in September,’ she said. ‘We need greater clarity on government messaging. There are still jobs at risk in city centres. We have still got a quarter of businesses who believe they may become unviable in 2022, and that is concentrated in city centres.’ The number of people visiting city centres is still down by 50 per cent, while hotels are at just 30 per cent of pre-pandemic occupancy.

Jace Tyrrell, of New West End Company, which represents 600 businesses in central London, said: ‘The trickle of office workers returning so far is not enough to reinvigorate shops, bars, restaurants and cafes that have suffered over the last 18 months. These

customers are an essential driving force behind thriving and vibrant city centres. We need stronger messaging and action to encourage workers to return to work to stimulate city centre recovery.’

But others said it was good that the Government is not issuing orders to companies. Lord Spencer, former Tory Treasurer, said: ‘I’m very much in favour of people working from the office... but I don’t think it’s a Government issue. We should leave it to the companies to make their own arrangements.’

Michael Sandler, founder of City communications firm Hudson Sandler, said: ‘You can’t dictate to anyone what to do, we’re just hoping that people like the flexibility. What the Government says doesn’t make much difference. Businesses won’t pay any attention to what they say, they’ll do what’s best for them.’

Claire Walker, of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: ‘If the Government believes it is safe for people to return to their workplaces then they must be crystal clear on how, why and when this should be done. We believe a hybrid way of working is here to stay and government must also engage with councils, businesses and communities on new ways to make our high streets and city centres thrive again.’

The Federation of Small Businesses said the majority of firms in accommodation and food services anticipated all staff would return to work on site – but 17 per cent of those running IT companies said it was likely all staff would work exclusively from home. Chairman Mike Cherry said: ‘Small firms tend to be more adaptable than big corporates and in many cases were already able to offer flexible working even before lockdown.’

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said yesterday: ‘The Civil Service is following the latest government guidance which involves gradually and cautiously increasing the number of staff working in the office.

‘There is no suggestion of going beyond that. We want to encourage people to work in a safe way but flexible working is, rightly, here to stay.

WHAT exactly is the Government’s message on whether white-collar Britain should get back to the office?

Privately, some ministers say they want to force a mass return of staff to Whitehall as an example to private sector workers reluctant to leave their home offices.

As the Mail reported yesterday, they are even threatening to dock the pay of civil servants who refuse to come back.

Publicly however, they are not so brave. Boris Johnson has flip-flopped on the subject (plus ca change!) and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng was positively feeble on the airwaves yesterday.

Rather than making a positive statement, he said he would ask staff in his department to ‘try’ to come in two or three days a week.

Try? Perish the thought that the poor dears should have to do a full week’s work for a full week’s pay. Imagine what would happen if NHS and supermarket workers took the same approach.

Of course it was right that people should work from home where possible at the height of the pandemic.

But with Covid in retreat and the adult population overwhelmingly vaccinated, it’s time to get Britain moving again. That means reigniting the collaborative creative buzz of the office.

Teamwork is central to the success of any business. It fosters ideas, boosts morale and gives a sense of common endeavour.

Crucially, younger staff learn skills from experienced older colleagues, helping them grow into their job. The flickering, stuttering vagaries of the conference call are no substitute for face-to-face contact.

To achieve the quick economic bounceback we all crave, towns and cities must power up again. And that means stay-athome workers emerging from their silos.

Otherwise the recovery will be strangled at birth and they may soon find they have no job at all.