Charlotte Hallam, Founder CRH Search
Are you seeing a rise in clients tightening their ‘return to work’ policies?
Yes, absolutely, and I’m seeing it on a basis of cost vs output. A lot of companies, where before they were saying it’s a hybrid contract, are now saying it’s an office-based contract, and therefore if the candidate travels they have to cover the cost themselves.
Before, they were allowing them to work three days at home and two in the office. Now it’s four days in the office and one at home, and they have to pay for their own travel. It’s a tightening of belts in terms of travel costs. And there’s also that trust element to it around what they’re actually doing in their diaries.
What’s your personal view on Jassy’s email to staff?
I don’t agree with it.
To say you’ve got four months and that’s it – no matter where you are in terms of your circumference to the office you’re contracted to work from – is terrible culturally.
It’s a cost saving exercise as I see it.
I think the UK tech channel may start using what Amazon said as an excuse to start increasing office days from two to four. I’m definitely seeing that as I’m profiling vacancies.
What I’m already seeing across the channel, particularly in distribution, is that sales directors and marketing directors are asking staff to pretty much be in the office four days a week. The company will say they have flexible working to get people to interview, but in reality they don’t. I’ll be rung up three or four months later by the candidate, saying ‘they’re asking me to go in four or five days a week and I can’t do it’. I’m starting to see a real balance shift.
What does Add Some Zest’s Calum Lyle think? See next page…
