John Lewis Partnership has instructed its head office employees to be present in the workplace for the majority of their working hours, rather than working from home, as part of a drive to enhance business performance.
In an internal memo, staff were told they are expected to be "more in person than not," reflecting a broader trend among major retailers. The company, which also owns Waitrose, reported a pre-tax loss of £21 million for the year ending January 31, 2026.
John Lewis noted that several competitors have already implemented stricter attendance policies. Boots required employees to return to the office five days a week in 2024, while Morrisons ended remote working for head office staff last summer.
However, earlier this month, Professor Nick Butler, former vice-president for strategy and policy at BP, suggested that a government recommendation to work from home would be "perfectly sensible" given the potential energy crisis linked to the conflict with Iran. Speaking to Times Radio, he highlighted that some Asian countries have already introduced an extra day of remote work per week to cope with the crisis.
"People do respond," Butler said. "They don't all do it perfectly, but they respond if other people are responding."
Last week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves reiterated her criticism of the war, which has driven up oil prices and threatens a new surge in inflation across Western nations. Butler warned that the full impact on prices has yet to be felt, with jet fuel prices already doubling and potential further increases ahead.
"The real crisis for Britain and for Europe will come at the end of April and in early May, when the real shortage will translate into both a physical shortage and a sharp rise in prices," he said. He added that there has been a degree of complacency, with some believing that former President Donald Trump would intervene to secure a deal.
