Government intervention ‘not needed’ on working from home

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Ultimately different organisations have different needs, and they will be uniquely placed to work with their staff to find the best solution.” Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect union, said: “There is a real risk that we end up with a two-tier workforce, further divided between those who can work from home being given flexibility, and those who can’t being given none.” Instead of leaks and briefings, the Government must publish their proposals for office-based workers post-July 19, and the starting point must be a strengthening of workers’ rights on flexible working. “This is going to be very company or organisation specific and any guidance the Government puts out is going to have to recognise that.” Health considerations have driven a wholesale shift in working patterns during the pandemic, and CBI surveys show more than three-quarters of companies expect flexible working to remain commonplace Matthew Percival, CBI Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, said: “Instead of leaks and briefings, the Government must publish their proposals for office-based workers post-July 19, and the starting point must be a strengthening of workers’ rights on flexible working so that workers are not pressured or blackmailed back into unsafe workplaces.” Matthew Percival, CBI director of people and skills, said: “Health considerations have driven a wholesale shift in working patterns during the pandemic, and CBI surveys show more than three-quarters of companies expect flexible working to remain commonplace. “For companies which get this right, the rewards are clear; engaged and energised workforces contributing to rising productivity growth.” We’ve asked people to work from home where they can during the pandemic but there are no plans to make this permanent or introduce a legal right to work from home Prime Minister’s official spokesman TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Flexible working is not just for those who can work from home. “As we see some staff working a hybrid model in the office and at home, we need Government action to make sure that our towns and cities remain vibrant places to live and work.” Downing Street has said there are no plans to introduce a legal right to work from home but that the Government was consulting on making flexible working a default option.