Home working became the engine that powered much of the global workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It opened up a completely new world, enabling millions to use hours usually lost from commuting on other aspects of their lives.
Almost a quarter of people around the world work from home, although this is fast-changing. Some reports indicate that 70% of employers plan to introduce part or full-time returns to the office.
This week, Lord Rose, the former boss of Marks and Spencer and Asda, warned that working from home is creating a generation who are “not doing proper work”.
Speaking to BBC Panorama, Lord Rose said that home working was a factor in the UK economy’s “general decline” and that employees’ productivity was suffering.
A survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics in 2024 found that 26% of those asked in the UK had been balancing work at home and in the office. Meanwhile, 13% had been fully remote and 41% had been fully-office based.
The shift to working from home has changed local economies in negative and positive ways.
While more suburban areas have enjoyed upticks in local business, vacant office spaces in cities have almost doubled, a quarter of dry-cleaning businesses have shut down, and hospitality venues have lost considerable trade.
The government is currently legislating to strengthen the right of employees to request to work from home. It says it hopes to make it harder for employers to reject such requests.
With a new workforce generation who have only worked from home, concerns are now being voiced that young people might be missing out on vital experience and learning opportunities.
What do you think, vote below and join the debate in the comments. Can’t see the poll? Click here.
A report by the Adecco Group highlights that an overwhelming majority of UK business leaders believe young people have experienced a “developmental dip” during the pandemic, attributed to prolonged periods of remote work.
This suggests that many young employees began their careers in remote settings, missing out on traditional office experiences.
Furthermore, an article from HR Magazine indicates that over half (55%) of employees aged 18 to 24 were keen to return to the office, more than double the average of 26% for employees overall.
This enthusiasm for office work among younger employees implies that a significant portion of them had been working remotely and were eager to experience in-person work environments.
Additionally, the Wall Street Journal notes that many in Generation Z may never work in a traditional office setting due to the rise of remote work.
This shift has led to concerns about the potential long-term impacts on their personal and professional development.
