‘Axe work from home’ plea as rules hit firms

WORKInG from home advice should be removed ‘quickly’ to help firms recover from the pandemic, nicola sturgeon was urged last night.

business chiefs warned the measures implemented during the festive period had ‘torpedoed’ the recovery of scotland’s hospitality sector.

They said restrictions on pubs, restaurants, retailers and offices were ‘harming’ town and city centres.

as well as calling for the scrapping of measures introduced for indoor venues last month, bosses said a plan of when offices can return to full capacity is needed.

The First Minister yesterday kept in force limits on indoor gatherings as well as restrictions on hospitality and retailers for what is expected to be almost another two weeks.

Pubs and restaurants can offer table service only, must have one-metre social distancing and are advised to limit groups to three households.

nightclubs have been shut since December 27, and retailers forced to reintroduce social distancing and controls.

Liz cameron, chief executive of the scottish chambers of commerce, said: ‘businesses in the hospitality, retail and evening economy, as well as connected sectors, will find it incredibly disappointing that there will be no immediate further lifting of restrictions.

‘as we adjust to living with covid-19, it’s essential the lifting of restrictions keeps pace, and that testing and vaccines take priority.’

Mrs cameron also urged Miss sturgeon to allow companies to begin getting staff back into offices in larger numbers.

she said: ‘Without the return of office worker footfall, businesses are continuing to suffer, leading to job losses and permanent closures. businesses want to see consistency in the easing of restrictions. The return of office working must be part of these plans.’

Tracy black, cbI scotland director, said: ‘Progress must be made quickly to remove remaining restrictions, including the requirement to work from home.’

UKHospitality scotland executive director Leon Thompson said the Government had ‘produced no evidence’ that restrictions on the sector had reduced covid rates.

Mr Thompson said: ‘Restrictions, combined with messaging to stay home as much as possible, torpedoed hospitality’s hopes for a busy festive period. any positivity that could be taken from possible changes was scuppered with talk of vaccine passports.’

This week a poll by the aberdeen and Grampian chamber of commerce found that 65 per cent of its members believe the measures in place are no longer proportionate to the risk. Twofifths warned they could be forced to cut staff.

Federation of small businesses scotland policy chairman andrew McRae said vaccine passports would disproportionately impact smaller firms.

at Holyrood yesterday, Miss sturgeon gave no indication on when work from home mandates will be lifted.

‘Any positivity was scuppered’