'You must stay at home' | How the COVID lockdown changed HR for better and worse

March 23rd marks five years since the UK first entered COVID lockdown, an anniversary that few are likely to celebrate but one that undoubtedly changed work and workplace culture overnight. 

We all remember where we were, five years ago, hearing those historic words from the Prime Minister. And while Boris Johnson told us "You must stay at home".

For days, perhaps weeks prior, HR leaders had scrambled to make remote working viable for this eventuality. Within days, business leaders were scratching their heads as they struggled to maintain engagement with workers who suddenly found themselves turning their kitchen table into a makeshift desk.

Now, as many firms are dragging employees back to the office, it’s time to reflect. What changed for the better? What changed for the worse? And what lessons (if any) have we truly learned from those chaotic early days?