The Transport Secretary said remote working was necessary at the height of the coronavirus pandemic but people could now feel confident about returning to the office. His message comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson launches a major push next week to get Britain back to work amid fears city centres will become “ghost towns”.
Coffee and sandwich chain Pret a Manger plans to axe 2,800 jobs and close 30 shops after reporting trade was down around 60 percent year-on-year because of the lockdown. As schoolchildren in England return to the classroom, newspaper adverts will advise employers how to make offices Covid-secure and encourage people to return.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak ruled out extending the furlough scheme beyond October as the Government tries to entice people out of their lockdown habits and reboot the economy.
Mr Shapps said: “I think there’s a limit, just in human terms, to remote working. And there are things where you just need to spark off each other and get together in order to make progress.” He said a “buzz” was being felt again in his Department for Transport building in central London as more officials returned.
Downing Street yesterday dismissed what it called “deeply irresponsible” claims ministers are warning home workers are more vulnerable to job losses. A spokeswoman said: “Our priority has always and will always be protecting people’s jobs.”
But ministers could face an uphill battle convincing staff to return to their town and city centre workplaces.
A report has suggested nine out of 10 employees want to continue working from home after the pandemic.
But CBI director general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn warned: “Some of our busiest city centres resemble ghost towns, missing the usual bustle of passing trade.
“This comes at a high price for local businesses, jobs and communities.” Mr Shapps said there were public transport “challenges” over passenger numbers but trains and buses were now much less full, making social distancing with face coverings possible.
Tom Neil, a senior adviser at workplace arbitration service Acas, said: “If an employee is worried about catching coronavirus by going into work, they should talk to their employer as early as possible.”
