Sir James Dyson has said the 鈥渃hances of the next generation will suffer鈥 if British workers do not return to the office.
The billionaire inventor, whose company employs around 4,000 people in Wiltshire, has called on the government to take the 鈥渓ess popular decision鈥 and lead workers away from their homes and back into offices in order to restore the 鈥渃ompetitiveness鈥 of the nation鈥檚 firms.
England鈥檚 order to work from home where possible was lifted on July 19, and the government has said it expects and recommends a gradual return to workplaces over the summer.
However, Labour has previously called for flexible working to become the 鈥渘ew normal鈥, saying 鈥渢he right to flexible working will change our economy and the world of work for the better鈥.
Writing for the Daily Telegraph , Sir James said allowing flexible working on a long-term basis risks creating a 鈥渢wo-tier workforce鈥.
He wrote: 鈥淕lib statements from ministers about home-working being 鈥榟ere to stay鈥 show a lack of understanding of the detrimental impact that it is having. Where is their output-based evidence?
鈥淲e risk creating a two-tier workforce with those at home becoming less and less effective, leaving those diligently attending the workplace to drive the business forward.鈥
Sir James pointed to his own business as an example of how some firms are not suited for flexible working.
He highlighted his company鈥檚 development of a new ventilator during the initial outbreak of the pandemic, with a team of 400 coming together to build a new medical device from scratch.
鈥淧rojects like this could never work with people cocooned at home,鈥 Sir James said.
He urged the government to restore the right for companies to determine how best to organise their teams, adding: 鈥淭he government must now harness any 鈥榲accine dividend鈥 and support Britain鈥檚 firms as they seek to recover their global competitiveness.
鈥淩eturning to the workplace is the essential starting point.鈥
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