Boots | Firm at centre of return-to-office storm

Retailer Boots has come under fire after staff have reportedly revealed they were ‘encouraged’ to come into its headquarters in Nottingham.

According to the Guardian, employees stated that messages from senior managers suggested they were expected to be at their desks for at least part of the week, despite the UK PM instructing staff to continue working from home where possible.

Following the claims, Boots verified the messages, including one that was sent from its UK MD Seb James, but denied that staff were put under any implicit pressure to be in its Nottingham office, where coronavirus infection rates are the highest in England.

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The firm’s HR Director, Nathan Clements, wrote to staff last week to “confirm our working from the office guidance”. He said: “Consistent with the new government regulations and local government guidance, the Beeston campus will remain open for colleagues, to spend some of their working week based in the office.”