“It’s more productive for my staff to work from home.”

Discuss?

Oh we’re discussing, alright. Because that line gets thrown around more than an office stress ball during year-end.

Let’s not pretend this isn’t controversial. On one side, you’ve got the pro-WFH crowd treating remote working like it’s the Second Coming. On the other, you’ve got boomer business owners who think if they can’t physically see you typing, you’re probably watching Bargain Hunt.

So who’s right? Let’s break it down, pint in hand and sarcasm set to ‘medium-rare’.

THE CASE FOR WORKING FROM HOME

Aka: Why everyone suddenly became allergic to office chairs

1. The Commute is Dead. Long Live the Commute.

No more squashing yourself into a train carriage like a sardine with a mortgage. No traffic jams. No small talk with Colin in middle management who always smells faintly of beef crisps.

You wake up, roll out of bed, and BAM, you’re “at work.” Sort of. After a coffee. And maybe one quick TikTok scroll. But still.

Less stress, more energy, and your car’s not guzzling £9 a litre just to get you to a business park in Swindon.

2. Productivity? Actually Up.

Believe it or not, some people do work harder at home. No Karen from HR doing her rounds. No cake-related office politics. No “quick chats” that eat 45 minutes and your will to live.

Remote workers often get their heads down and crack on. Especially once they realise Slack logs every emoji reaction and there’s no IT guy to fix their cock-ups.

3. Flexibility = Loyalty

Let’s be honest, most people don’t want to work from a Costa in the Maldives. They just want to pick their kids up from school, not spend four hours a day commuting, and be treated like grown-ups.

Give them that, and they’re more likely to stick around even when Sandra from recruitment keeps trying to poach them with “exciting opportunities.”

4. Pants Optional, Output Mandatory

At home, people can wear what they like as long as the work gets done. If your best salesperson can close a deal wearing a Hogwarts dressing gown and fuzzy socks, who cares?

Let’s stop pretending a tie equals talent. That myth died in 2008.

THE CASE AGAINST WORKING FROM HOME

Aka: Why your team might actually be watching Homes Under the Hammer

1. Zoom: The Death of Spontaneity

Meetings used to be simple. You'd shout “Quick word?” across the room, and ten minutes later, the problem’s solved.

Now? You need to find a slot in someone’s calendar, send a Zoom link, then spend 40 minutes discussing the meaning of life because no one wants to be the first to say, “Right, let’s wrap this up.”

By the time you’ve “circled back” and “aligned goals,” you could’ve built a shed.

2. Culture… Where Art Thou?

Remote work doesn’t just flatten the commute, it flattens the vibe. The energy. The actual culture.

New starters have no idea who’s who, no sense of belonging, and no way to learn the unwritten office rules like “Don’t microwave mackerel” or “Avoid eye contact with Dave on a Wednesday.”

It’s hard to build a winning team spirit when everyone’s camera’s off and no one’s spoken to Steve in legal since April.

3. Not Everyone's Got a Pinterest-Ready Office

The LinkedIn fantasy of WFH features a sunlit desk, inspirational quotes, and a £400 ergonomic chair.

Reality? Half your team are hunched over kitchen tables with toddlers chewing on printer cables. One guy’s in a flat share where the lounge doubles as his desk and someone else’s drum practice room.

The environment matters. And not everyone’s got one that screams “high-performance professional” some scream “send help.”

4. The Green Dot of Deception

That little “online” light on Teams or Slack? It’s a lie.

Half your staff are “active” while deep into a rabbit hole of sourdough videos and conspiracy theories about printers.

Activity doesn’t equal productivity. And unless you’ve got strong KPIs, solid workflows, and managers who can actually manage, WFH becomes “WFN”, Working From Netflix.

THE VERDICT: SO, IS IT REALLY MORE PRODUCTIVE?

Here’s the kicker:

Working from home can be more productive… if your people aren’t wasters.

If you’ve got:

• Good systems

• Clear goals

• Proper communication

• Accountability

• Staff who aren’t secretly building a Minecraft castle on company time

…then yes, crack on. Let them work where they like.

But if you're just hoping Cheryl delivers magic while she’s also home schooling, walking the dog, and attending a “sound bath webinar,” don’t be surprised when the only thing delivered is excuses.

PUB-STYLE SUMMARY:

• Working from home can be brilliant… or absolute bollocks.

• It’s not about where they are. It’s about what they actually do.

• Trust is lovely, but targets are better.

• If Sandra’s smashing KPIs in her slippers, crack on.

• If Dave’s “on a call” every time you check in, but the only ringing is from his PlayStation — time for a rethink.

  
  

Final word? Don’t mistake quiet for productive. That’s how we got Brexit.

If you want some honest, no-nonsense feedback or you've got a business myth that needs a proper busting, get in touch.

We’ll give it to you straight. No fluff, no jargon, and absolutely no motivational quotes about "hustling harder."

Cheers.