WFH? Then expect a pay cut

NEARLY one in ten of the capital’s employers has dropped – or has plans to remove – the London weighting allowance on salaries for remote workers.

An exclusive survey of more than 22,700 companies by recruitment firm Hays found that 11 per cent will ditch the salary boost for London workers who continue to work from home.

The research also found that 28 per cent of employers are planning to hire staff to work remotely on a permanent basis, which was more than double the number in a previous survey.

Many companies are planning to allow employees to work ‘flexibly’ – going to the office on some days of the week and working at home on others.

There has been some debate over whether those who continue to work from home should have their salaries cut as they do not have to pay commuting costs.

Last month, it was reported that Whitehall officials have held talks about removing London weighting for civil servants who do not wish to return to the workplace.

Simon Winfield, a managing director at Hays, said: ‘As employers adjust their hiring plans to a post-pandemic world, it’s encouraging to see over a quarter are hiring for remote roles.’

He said this gives employers ‘access to a wider talent pool’ – such as people with accessibility issues – ‘at a time when competition for staff is high’.