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| Working from home criticism sparks anger: 'We are not lazy' | |
| (14 days later) | |
| Alba says chronic pain disrupts her sleep, making it "even harder to operate in the office" | Alba says chronic pain disrupts her sleep, making it "even harder to operate in the office" |
| The BBC has heard from hundreds of people who have been angered by comments by the former boss of M&S and Asda that working from home is "not proper work". | The BBC has heard from hundreds of people who have been angered by comments by the former boss of M&S and Asda that working from home is "not proper work". |
| In an interview with Panorama, Lord Rose told the BBC that home working was part of the UK economy's "general decline" and employees' productivity was suffering. | In an interview with Panorama, Lord Rose told the BBC that home working was part of the UK economy's "general decline" and employees' productivity was suffering. |
| More than 350 people, the majority of whom support working from home, contacted the BBC with their stories. | More than 350 people, the majority of whom support working from home, contacted the BBC with their stories. |
| One of them was Alba, 52, from Dorking, who is currently searching for a remote job. "We are not lazy. We don't want to golf all day." | One of them was Alba, 52, from Dorking, who is currently searching for a remote job. "We are not lazy. We don't want to golf all day." |
| Alba, who previously worked as a business administrator, lives with chronic pain, travel sickness and migraines, and says she needs to work from home to manage her condition. | Alba, who previously worked as a business administrator, lives with chronic pain, travel sickness and migraines, and says she needs to work from home to manage her condition. |
| "I just want a comfortable environment where I can deal with my health issues," she says. | "I just want a comfortable environment where I can deal with my health issues," she says. |
| Out of 357 responses submitted by individuals who chose to contact the BBC, 250 people said working from home was essential, with many citing health issues as a key reason for flexible working. | Out of 357 responses submitted by individuals who chose to contact the BBC, 250 people said working from home was essential, with many citing health issues as a key reason for flexible working. |
| "I'm not in senior management, I'm not asking for a high salary, I just don't want to be on sickness benefits and that's what will happen if I can't work from home," says Alba. | "I'm not in senior management, I'm not asking for a high salary, I just don't want to be on sickness benefits and that's what will happen if I can't work from home," says Alba. |
| She adds that her health issues once resulted in an ambulance being called at work. | She adds that her health issues once resulted in an ambulance being called at work. |
| Clare McNeil, director at Timewise, a consultancy specialising in flexible working policies, highlights that the benefits of remote work extend to employers as well, with such policies reducing staff turnover and sickness absence. | Clare McNeil, director at Timewise, a consultancy specialising in flexible working policies, highlights that the benefits of remote work extend to employers as well, with such policies reducing staff turnover and sickness absence. |
| 'My career has skyrocketed' | 'My career has skyrocketed' |
| Mark Mortensen, associate professor of organisational behaviour at the business school INSEAD, says defining productivity can be challenging, particularly in creative and collaborative roles. | Mark Mortensen, associate professor of organisational behaviour at the business school INSEAD, says defining productivity can be challenging, particularly in creative and collaborative roles. |
| But Rebecca Mitchell, 38, a software engineer from London, says the difference in her productivity at work has been "drastic" since she started working from home 10 years ago. | But Rebecca Mitchell, 38, a software engineer from London, says the difference in her productivity at work has been "drastic" since she started working from home 10 years ago. |
| Rebecca, who has ADHD, says that before working remotely, she struggled to stay employed. | Rebecca, who has ADHD, says that before working remotely, she struggled to stay employed. |
| "Working from an office adds too much stress and leads to a wealth of mental health issues for me," she says. | "Working from an office adds too much stress and leads to a wealth of mental health issues for me," she says. |
| She says that whereas before, she felt overlooked for career progression because of her disability, since working from home her salary has tripled. | She says that whereas before, she felt overlooked for career progression because of her disability, since working from home her salary has tripled. |
| "Autism and ADHD are only now being accepted. People understand neurodivergence now like they didn't before. | "Autism and ADHD are only now being accepted. People understand neurodivergence now like they didn't before. |
| "People like me rely on working from home in order to be a productive part of the workforce." | "People like me rely on working from home in order to be a productive part of the workforce." |
| The shift towards working from home has increased in the UK since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. | The shift towards working from home has increased in the UK since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. |
| While the trend in working only from home has fallen since 2021, a hybrid-working model - some days travelling to work and some days working at home - has become the new normal for many people. | While the trend in working only from home has fallen since 2021, a hybrid-working model - some days travelling to work and some days working at home - has become the new normal for many people. |
| According to a snapshot survey from the Office for National Statistics, 25% of working adults in Great Britain were hybrid working in January 2025, while 15% were working from home. The data shows where people said they were working on the day they completed the survey, rather than their wider working pattern. | |
| 'Feels like I'm in lockdown' | 'Feels like I'm in lockdown' |
| Hannah Douglas says remote work has hurt her mental health and quality of life | Hannah Douglas says remote work has hurt her mental health and quality of life |
| But, of the BBC's responses, 50 were against working from home. | But, of the BBC's responses, 50 were against working from home. |
| One of those was Hannah, 31, a technical support manager in Birmingham. | One of those was Hannah, 31, a technical support manager in Birmingham. |
| After the pandemic, her employer shut down all its offices so she had to work remotely full-time. She says this has taken a toll on her mental, physical and financial health, prompting her to consider changing careers and moving house to improve her situation. | After the pandemic, her employer shut down all its offices so she had to work remotely full-time. She says this has taken a toll on her mental, physical and financial health, prompting her to consider changing careers and moving house to improve her situation. |
| "It feels like I'm in a lockdown that's never going to end," she says. | "It feels like I'm in a lockdown that's never going to end," she says. |
| Lord Rose, who recently stepped down as Asda's chairman, told the BBC: "We have regressed in this country in terms of working practices, productivity and the country's wellbeing." | Lord Rose, who recently stepped down as Asda's chairman, told the BBC: "We have regressed in this country in terms of working practices, productivity and the country's wellbeing." |
| For Hannah, who is single, remote work has left her feeling isolated. | For Hannah, who is single, remote work has left her feeling isolated. |
| "All the people who love working from home are in relationships, or have children, live with family - they're not 100% alone all the time like me." | "All the people who love working from home are in relationships, or have children, live with family - they're not 100% alone all the time like me." |