Dyson staff told to work in offices in 'draconian' move

Last week the Prime Minister announced that employees should once again work from home if they can as cases of the Omicron variant continue to rise.

However, despite Boris Johnson’s decision to move to the new Plan B guidance, one employer has decided to keep their staff in offices.

According to the Guardian, vacuum cleaner manufacturer Dyson has told many of its UK employees to continue working in the office, after it claimed that many areas of its business are unable to be carried out from home.

In an internal message sent to UK workers last week, it reportedly stated that all Dyson offices should remain open.

The message said that “we fundamentally disagree” with the Prime Minister’s decision to encourage working from home again.

The firm shared that it has cancelled its own Christmas party, opting instead for a summer family event, while also encouraging its employees to avoid parties and events over the festive season.

Dyson also recommended that workers avoid parties or events where masks are not worn “to keep safe and protect your friends and family over Christmas”.

Sir James Dyson, owner of the business, has regularly opposed working from home previously saying last year in an interview with the Times: “Working from home doesn’t work. I only did it when I couldn’t afford an office or employees. People need to interact and exchange views.”

Due to this, those expected to work in the office include staff within the research, IT, security, development, commercial and estates management teams.

Commenting on the claims, a Dyson spokesperson explained: “The latest government guidance states that employees ‘should continue to go into work’ if they need to access equipment or complete their role in person. Dyson is asking select groups to continue attending our campuses for practical, confidentiality and security reasons; and others may work at home.

“We have gone beyond the government’s guidance throughout the crisis to keep our people safe – introducing mandatory mask-wearing long before the guidance required it, and these measures have remained in force since.”

Despite this, one Dyson employee has aired their concerns with the Guardian: “Since the summer everyone in the UK has been mandated to work five days a week in the office. It is as draconian as it sounds.”

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