Lucy Acheson and Thomas Copeland
BBC News
Alba
Alba says chronic pain disrupts his sleep, making it ‘even harder to operate in the office’
The BBC has heard from hundreds of people who have been angered by the former M&S and Asda boss’ comments that working from home is “not a good job”.
In an interview with Panorama, Lord Rose told the BBC that working from home was part of the “general decline” in the UK economy and that employee productivity was suffering.
More than 350 people, the majority of whom support working from home, contacted the BBC with their stories.
One of them was Alba, 52, from Dorking, who is currently looking for remote employment. “We’re not lazy. We don’t want to play golf all day.”
Alba, who previously worked as a business administrator, lives with chronic pain, motion sickness and migraines, and says she has to work from home to manage her condition.
“I just want a comfortable environment where I can deal with my health problems,” she says.
Of 357 responses submitted by people who chose to contact the BBC, 250 people said working from home was essential, with many citing health concerns as a key reason for flexible working
“I’m not in upper management, I’m not asking for a high salary, I just don’t want to be on sick pay and that’s what will happen if I can’t work from home,” says Alba.
She adds that her health problems resulted in an ambulance being called to work.
Clare McNeil, director of Timewise, a consultancy specializing in flexible working policies, points out that the benefits of remote working also extend to employers, with such policies reducing staff turnover and freedom from sickness.
‘My career skyrocketed’
Mark Mortensen, associate professor of organizational behavior at INSEAD business school, says defining productivity can be difficult, particularly in creative and collaborative roles.
But Rebecca Mitchell, 38, a software engineer from London, says the difference in her productivity at work has been “drastic” since she started working from home 10 years ago.
Rebecca, who has ADHD, says that before working remotely, she struggled to stay employed.
“Working from an office adds too much stress and leads to a host of mental health issues for me,” she says.
She says that while previously she felt overlooked for career progression due to her disability, since working from home her salary has tripled.
“Autism and ADHD are only now being accepted. People understand neurodivergence now in ways they didn’t before.
“People like me rely on working from home in order to be a productive part of the workforce.”
The shift towards working from home has increased in the UK since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
As the trend of only working from home has fallen since 2021, a hybrid work model – some days traveling to work and some days working from home – has become the new normal for many people.
According to a snapshot survey by The Office for National Statistics, 25% of working adults in Britain were working in January 2025, while 15% worked from home. The data shows where people said they were working on the day they completed the survey rather than their broader work pattern.
‘Looks like I’m in lockdown’
Hannah Douglas
Hannah Douglas says remote work took a toll on her mental health and quality of life
But, of the BBC’s responses, 50 were against working from home.
One of them was Hannah, 31, a technical support manager in Birmingham.
After the pandemic, her employer closed all of its offices, so she had to work remotely full-time. She says it took a toll on her mental, physical and financial health, prompting her to consider changing careers and moving to improve her situation.
“I feel like I’m in a lockdown that will never end,” she says.
Lord Rose, who recently resigned as chairman of Asda, told the BBC: “We have regressed in this country in terms of working practices, productivity and the well-being of the country.”
For Hannah, who is single, working remotely has left her feeling isolated.
“All the people who like to work from home are in relationships or have kids, live with a family – they’re not 100% alone all the time like me.”
