As growing numbers of businesses call staff back and Lord Sugar dubs remote workers ‘lazy layabouts’, People Management examines the arguments on both sides

by Isabel Jackson 8 February 2024

As the pandemic came to an end and lockdowns eased, it seemed that remote working would be here to stay. However, almost four years on since the start of Covid, the future of flexible working is in question.

Business mogul and The Apprentice star Lord Sugar made headlines last week after saying he is “sick” of working from home culture, and labelling those who work from home “a bunch of lazy layabouts”.

“I was told I was out of touch. I am not out of touch, believe me. You know nothing until you are in a workplace bouncing off other people,” he told the BBC.