'Not proper work'? | HR should challenge CEOs on their anti-WFH stance

The debate over remote work has resurfaced once again, this time ignited by Lord Stuart Rose, the former boss of Asda and M&S. Rose argues that working from home isn’t ‘proper work’ and has set the UK’s productivity back by 20 years. 

His comments, shared in a recent BBC Panorama interview, reflect a growing sentiment among certain business leaders who believe that employees must be in the office to be effective. 

His concerns are definitely worth considering, but his position is, for obvious reasons, rooted in the wants & needs of the boardroom rather than those of the average employee.

HR leaders and Chief People Officers (CPOs) therefore have a key role in communicating the desires of the workforce to the C-suite, and should take the lead in challenging these outdated views and ensuring CEOs understand the clear benefits of flexible working.