Government’s uphill task to persuade people back to offices

While it is believed that just six per cent of people in the UK worked from home prior to the pandemic, that rose steeply to 43 per cent by April. The report by academics at Cardiff University and the University of Southampton claims that an overwhelming nine out of 10 people who have worked from home during lockdown want to continue doing so.

With productivity levels apparently no different to pre-lockdown, many companies are happy to let home-working continue, with the added bonus that their office costs can be reduced.

The News Letter editorial team has worked from home throughout the pandemic, using video calls has enabled the team to maintain daily face-to-face contact.

Boris Johnson though is coming under pressure from senior Tory MPs who believe the lack of office workers is having “devastating consequences” on town and city centres across the UK. They are probably right.

The government is planning a campaign to encourage people back to offices but it might face an uphill task. Workers are saving time and money by not commuting and with the winter months looming, they also might feel altogether safer from Covid-19 at home.