The letter from Heather Thomas (“Command and control is an outdated office mindset”, November 19) reflects how the “work from home” movement has quickly become politicised. It is being pushed aggressively by a loose alliance of academics, journalists, technology providers and self-interested employees, who use emotive language to demonise any manager exercising their legitimate right to question this new mantra.
The political left and trade unions are also firmly behind it, which is not surprising given it is so clearly in the interests of employees.
What is less clear is whether it serves the interests of organisations and the economy as a whole. While the supposed benefits in terms of talent attraction and employee wellbeing are trumpeted, we have yet to see the impact on costs, productivity, customer service and organisational cohesion.
Given the significant concerns over online GP consultations for the health service and strong student reactions to increased online learning, there is clearly another side to this argument that the press and academics are choosing to ignore.
While some staff may be more productive working from home, anyone who cares to look around them on any week day can see that many others are using their new found flexibility to do things other than work. Why would they want to give this up?
Whether work from home represents a tectonic shift in working patterns that will help to improve the UK’s woeful productivity performance, or whether it is an opportunistic middle-class scam designed to secure five days’ pay for three or four days’ work, remains to be seen.
Roy Massey
London NW1, UK
Letter: Tectonic shift in work, or a middle-class scam?
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