FIFTY British Companies Will Not Return Employees to Offices, and Croatia Will Only Change Labor Law in Autumn

Fifty of the largest British employers have no intention of returning all their employees to the office for full-time work in the near future, according to the latest research. In its survey involving 50 large employers, from banks to retail companies, the BBC asked them when they plan to return their employees to the office.

Of the total number, 24 companies have no intention of returning employees to the office, while 20 companies have opened their offices for employees who do not have the conditions to work from home. One of the main reasons for delaying their return to the office is that companies cannot find a way to accommodate a large number of employees while adhering to prescribed social distancing measures.

Many companies, especially in the banking and financial sector, offer employees choice and flexibility in case they want to return to the office. Several companies have already announced that they have no intention of returning to the office until late autumn, while Facebook announced that it does not plan to return its employees until July 2021. Some smaller companies, on the other hand, have decided to completely abandon their offices.

The director of the British public relations agency, Tara Thomas, has no intention of extending the office lease in September, as she cannot bring her team of eight into the space while adhering to the prescribed measures.

– The lack of four walls around us will not change the dynamics or culture of the team. If nothing else, it will make us pioneers of a changed world of work – said Thomas. She also added that there are additional benefits and that savings are being created, as she does not rent space, does not pay utilities, and saves time that would otherwise be spent commuting to and from work.

Despite everything, it is too early to declare the death of office space, believes regional director of Argenta, Rob Groves, who has just completed the construction of 120,000 square meters of office space in Birmingham. Although some tenants have paused their leases and halted purchases, he says there will always be a need for workspace where people can gather and collaborate.

– I want to challenge people who say they will never need an office and ask them in 12 to 18 months if that was the right decision or just a reaction to what is happening now – said Groves.

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