UK workers still avoiding offices despite government campaign

The majority of UK workers have not returned to their offices despite the government's campaign urging businesses to return to normal.

Only 17% of employees across 63 of the largest towns in the country, compared to pre-lockdown levels, had resumed travelling to their place of work by the end of August, revealed data from the Centre of Cities thinktank.

That was the same proportion as in June, meaning that the number of people returning to offices has flatlined over the summer.

Worker footfall was down most in Oxford, Leeds and London.

In July, Prime Minister Boris Johnson initiated a campaign to urge companies to return staff to offices to help reboot the British economy.

According to the Guardian, there are still major concerns about the well-being of workers in offices given the challenges facing companies using densely packed spaces while at the same time adhering to Covid-19 safety guidelines. A return to work could lead to a rise in infections.

The number of workers in city centres may rise in the coming weeks as schools have reopened and parents no longer have to take care of their children for a better part of the day.

Andrew Carter, the Centre for Cities chief executive, said: “There is little indication that workers are heeding the government’s call to return to their offices, and city centre restaurants, pubs and shops face an uncertain future while they remain at home.

“Unless we see a big increase in people returning to the office, the chancellor must set out how he will support the people working in retail and hospitality who could soon find themselves out of a job.”