BT staff told to return to the office

BT is demanding staff return to the office three days a week as it is “fundamental to the success of the business”, in the latest sign of a boardroom backlash against working from home.

Chief executive Philip Jansen has told thousands of staff that it would be shifting to a new “smart working” approach of “three together, two wherever”. Those who do not want to accept the new terms could face disciplinary action, according to The Register, a technology news website.

In an email, Mr Jansen said: “We believe in being together. That means most of our office-based colleagues coming together for at least three days a week in the workplace, or with customers. Working remotely, we’ve lost that deep connection we only get from being together – with each other or with our customers.”

It comes as tussles over how best to work in the postpandemic era create tensions. The New York Times is among the companies facing a backlash over its return to the office push after workers expecting pay rises were offered free lunch boxes.

City law firm Stephenson Harwood has told staff they can work from home, only if they take a 20pc pay cut.