Latest news with #remote working
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
WFH makes us productive, civil servants claim
The majority of civil servants have claimed that working from home makes them more productive, a new poll has found. Seven in 10 mandarins have said that they believe remote working has had a positive effect on Whitehall, according to a YouGov survey of civil servants. Respondents said that working from home had a particularly positive impact on the ability to 'attract and retain talent' as well as on employee satisfaction More than three-quarters of civil servants (79 per cent) said they believed it had a positive impact on employee productivity. YouGov conducted a survey of 101 civil servants about how they felt Whitehall was working, with a particular focus on working from home practices. When asked to suggest a working from home policy they felt most appropriate, half said that Whitehall should mandate one or two days in the office. Nearly a third (30 per cent) believed that the most appropriate policy is to allow all civil servants to work from home as much as they want. The rules for office attendance within the civil service mean that mandarins should spend at least 60 per cent of their working hours in the office or on official business elsewhere. The rule was brought in under the Conservatives, but has continued under the Labour Government. Over half of civil servants also told YouGov that remote working has had a positive impact on public service delivery, and 50 per cent said it had benefitted policy development and decision-making. The demand for civil servants to be working face-to-face with colleagues for three days a week was met with criticism from some civil servants. A survey conducted by the FDA union found that more than three quarters felt an enforced turn to the workplace was not 'beneficial'. Chancellor prefers office Rachel Reeves has previously said that she 'leads by example' in the Treasury by going into the office, claiming that she was 'reaping dividends' from face-to-face working. It comes amid ongoing concerns about the productivity of the public sector, which fell by 0.3 per cent in 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The Telegraph revealed in April that more than 2,000 public sector workers were allowed to work from foreign holidays in order to extend holidays or visit partners abroad. YouGov also found that 59 per cent of respondents to their survey said that the Whitehall civil service is performing well, more than the 40 per cent of MPs who answered similarly in a previous YouGov poll. Last December, the Government awarded a 2.8 per cent pay rise to senior civil servants, along with teachers and NHS staff.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Companies have right to strike balance on remote working, McEntee says
Companies have the right to strike a balance on remote working based on their business, Minister for Education Helen McEntee has said. It comes as several companies and State departments shift away from the remote working arrangements introduced in the aftermath of the pandemic. Advertisement The option to work from home came into force during the Covid-19 pandemic due to restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus. A right to request remote working came into effect from March 2024, inspired by those arrangements. Mandated 'hybrid' arrangements by employers have raised concerns, where people are able to work from home some days but must come into the office a minimum number of days a week. Earlier this year, the Department of Social Protection made efforts to increase the minimum number of days staff worked from the office from one to two. Advertisement The Department of Finance had also requested an increase in the number of office days, in a move that was resisted by unions. This week, reports emerged that AIB is to reduce the option of working from home five days a week to just two for non-customer facing staff. Asked about the shift in the option to remote work and the effect it would have on families, Ms McEntee said companies 'have that autonomy'. 'I'll be honest, I think it's important that we provide that flexibility and that structure at a government level, but that we also have that autonomy within companies as well,' she said in Dublin. Advertisement 'For some people, it's simply not possible to work from home [with] the type of job or the career they're in. 'For others, there is that flexibility, and I know certainly some companies like to have that balance, that people are in work, they're in the office, they're getting to know their colleagues. 'There's a way in which you can work that you can't when you're at home, or you're perhaps not meeting people face to face. Business Legislation in employers' favour but 'claims of de... Read More 'So I think it's about providing that structure to allow that kind of flexibility. Advertisement 'But ultimately, companies do have to make decisions based on what's right for them, what's right for the way in which they're working, while at the same time trying to support and recognise and acknowledge that people have families, that they have school, that they have commitments, that they have to try and work with them to make sure that everybody benefits from it. 'But you know, it is about that flexibility and the same time acknowledging, for some people it works better than others, and for some companies that will work better than for others.'
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The remote worker bubble burst: House prices in London and commuter towns soar while WFH hotspots drop in value - use our interactive calculator to find out how much YOURS is worth
The remote working boom is over, property experts have suggested, amid an increase in value of homes in and around London and a drop elsewhere. Property prices outside of the capital exploded at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic as employers embraced remote working practices and emboldened workers sought out gardens and home office spaces. Demand for suburban and rural property exploded as people fled city centres for pastures greener - but estate agent Purplebricks says some these areas have seen tens of thousands of pounds wiped from the value of homes in recent months. Official house price index figures from the Office for National Statistics analysed by the online agency suggest properties in Bath, north-east Somerset, the Cotswolds and South Hams in Devon lost the most value over the 12 months to May. These were thought to be some of the most desirable havens for the 75,000 people thought to have fled London during the pandemic seeking peace and quiet - among them childless professionals likely working from home. Property prices shot up between five and 15 per cent in these areas between 2019 and 2020 - but more than £20,000 has been skimmed from house valuations over the last year as demand has waned. On the other hand, demand has exploded in areas of London's commuter belt - or on the outer verges of the capital itself. MailOnline's exclusive calculator (below) shows how values have changed in these areas and every area across the UK - select your area in the drop-down box to find out how prices have changed where you are. Three Rivers in Hertfordshire - touching the outer London borough of Watford - has seen values explode by 13 per cent, or around £79,000 on average. Kingston-Upon-Thames and Bromley have seen prices surge eight and nine per cent respectively - around £48,000 each - over the last year. Other areas in the top 10 annual price rise table include Tunbridge Wells, Waltham Forest, Southwark and Elmbridge - all within an hour of central London by train. Values fell across the year in some central parts of the capital, including the City of London, Westminster, Islington and Hammersmith and Fulham. But they have rebounded in the short-term, with values in Camden, the City of London and Kensington and Chelsea rising nine, eight and three percent in the last month, adding tens of thousands of pounds in value in a matter of weeks. Overall, house prices in England have risen by 3.4 per cent in the last year; 5.1 per cent in Wales and 6.4 per cent in Scotland. Average house prices across the three home nations stand at £290,000, £210,000 and £192,000, respectively. Purplebricks says the dipping prices outside of London and continuingly falling interest rates were creating a promising market. The base rate of 4.25 per cent, as set by the Bank of England, is down one percentage point over the last year. Leading economists expect a further rate cut at the Bank's next meeting on August 7. Tom Evans, sales director, said: 'Great news once again for the nation's homeowners, and at a promising time for first-time buyers too. 'The falling interest rates over the last 12 months has helped drive down mortgage rates and drive up property prices - and the forecast base rate cut in August should continue that trend. 'We are confident house prices will continue to rise into next year, meaning your home at the start of 2026 will be worth more than it is today.' Last year, the Centre for Cities think tank said there were early signs the capital was 'bouncing back' from the Covid exodus. The research group says it is confident the population in London has surged past pre-pandemic levels. Official estimates suggest the capital was home to 8.945million people as of mid-2023, largely driven by international migration, according to the ONS.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Workers fear being forced back into office, survey finds
Workers say they are being negatively impacted by pressure to spend more time in the office, a survey has found, as a growing number of companies toughen their stance on remote working. The poll, conducted by recruitment firm Hays, found that 38 per cent of respondents reported a negative impact on their wellbeing following recent news coverage of firms increasing office attendance requirements. This effect was skewed towards female respondents, with 42 per cent of women reporting negative effects on their wellbeing from news coverage about return-to-office mandates, compared to 32 per cent of men. Younger workers between the ages of 20 and 29 also expressed more concern than their older counterparts aged 50 and above. Around 84 per cent of hybrid workers said being permitted to work from home or remotely had a positive effect on their wellbeing. This effect also skewed towards female respondents, with 87 per cent of women reporting improved wellbeing from a hybrid model versus 80 per cent of men. All respondents in favour of the hybrid model cited improvements to their mental, physical, social and financial health. The findings are based on responses from 3,600 UK-based employers and employees across both the public and private sectors, collected between late April and early May. Financial pressure, particularly commuting expenses, emerged as a key concern, with 59 per cent saying it was a factor that would affect their willingness to return to the office more frequently. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, hybrid working was the norm for 28 per cent of working adults in Great Britain during the first quarter of 2025. But a number of major firms, especially in the finance sector, have announced stricter return-to-office policies. HSBC warned UK retail banking staff in May that a failure to spend at least 60 per cent of their time in the office could result in reduced bonuses. Barclays and Santander have also introduced more restrictive remote working guidelines. Man Group, the world's largest publicly listed hedge fund, required London-based analysts to return to the office full-time on a temporary basis from June, as the company looks to recover from a period of underperformance. Hannah Pearsall, the head of wellbeing at Hays, said: 'The popularity of hybrid working shows no signs of wavering any time soon, and the role this flexible working pattern plays in improving wellbeing should not be overlooked. 'A lack of awareness around the impact of a return to the office on wellbeing, particularly financial wellbeing, could be catastrophic for the sustained success of their business.'
