Millions of us proved during the pandemic that we can do our jobs well from home. Since then, hybrid working has become part of everyday life for workers across the UK. We've built our routines, our childcare, our lives around it.

Now some of the UK's biggest employers are tearing that away. Companies like John Lewis, IKEA, Morrisons, HSBC and Barclays have told their staff to come back to the office full time, or else.

They say it's about productivity, but the evidence doesn't back that up. Research from King's College London, looking at over a million data points from the UK workforce, found no proof that being in an office makes people work better. In fact, studies consistently show that flexible workers are more productive, not less, and more loyal to their employers. The truth is, this isn't about getting the best out of people. It's about control and it comes at a real cost. 58% of workers say they'd quit or start looking for a new job if forced back five days a week. That's not a workforce that feels trusted or valued. Flexibility isn't a luxury, it's become an essential part of how people manage their lives.