Several major companies, including Amazon, Boots, and JP Morgan, have mandated a return to office work, with JP Morgan's CEO Jamie Dimon advocating for this shift since 2021 and achieving full compliance by January 2025.

The shift back to office work comes after a significant increase in remote working during the Covid-19 lockdowns, where the number of people working from home surged from 4.7 million in late 2019 to 9.9 million by early 2022.

Critics of remote work, including Lord Stuart Rose, former CEO of Asda and Marks & Spencer, argue that it has led to decreased productivity among workers, claiming that many are 'not doing proper work'.

In a BBC One Panorama interview, Rose linked the rise of remote work to a regression in the UK's work practices and productivity, suggesting that the country has lost 20 years of progress in just four.

The debate over remote work is intensifying, particularly with the government's new workers' rights bill, which aims to make it harder for employers to deny work-from-home requests.

The Labour government is pushing for an employment rights bill that will provide workers with the right to flexible work arrangements, allowing for hybrid options unless employers can justify otherwise.

Current data shows that 28% of the UK workforce is engaged in hybrid work, while 13% work fully remotely, and 44% commute to work.

In a bid to encourage employees back to the office, Citigroup has announced a £1 billion investment to renovate its London offices.

The Panorama episode 'Should We Still Be Working from Home?' highlighted the tightening of home working policies in public sectors, including a hybrid model for the Metropolitan Police requiring at least three in-office days per week.

Despite the push from major companies for a return to the office, employment rights minister Justin Madders argues that remote work can lead to a more motivated workforce.

Rose emphasizes the importance of office work for productivity, while also acknowledging the need for some flexibility in work arrangements.