End of work from home advice sees commuters flock back to London offices.
The first Monday since work from home guidance was dropped has seen a huge increase in commuters pouring in to central London.
Trains were reported as being ‘rammed’ as workers returned to offices across the capital, bringing with them optimism for city centre businesses which have suffered significantly over the last two years.
On Monday 24th January, the Evening Standard reported a 6% increase on Tube entry and exits before 9am over the same time the previous Monday, and a 14% improvement the fortnight before.
A day after the easing of restrictions last week the Financial Times reported that many City firms had begun ordering staff back to their offices with the likes of HSBC, Goldman Sachs and many law and insurance firms sending emails on Thursday telling employees that their presence in the office was now required.
Cabinet minister Steve Barclay has urged Londoners, including Civil Service workers to help get the capital’s economy back on track by returning to their offices, putting pressure on union and Whitehall bosses not to delay getting civil servants back to their desks.
Mr Barclay told the Evening Standard; “It’s important that we now see the maximum use of our office space as we build a strong recovery after the disruption of the pandemic.”
Image courtesy of gemphotography via iStock.
