HR Industry News

UK Workers refute Boris Johnson's 'sloth' claims

— 31 July 2007 —

After comments made by Boris Johnson that working from home is a "euphemism for sloth", UK workers have hit back. 70% of those polled by NTL:Telewest claim that working from home makes them more productive.

Conservative MP Boris Johnson wrote that "our species yearns for the office" and called on the government to improve the transport infrastructure to help commuters. Citing figures that show the number of tube journeys is set to go up from 1bn to 1.5bn per year, Johnson said "the job of government is to help people get to the office."

Johnson added that "we find that we need the tension and the jokes, not to mention the acrimony and the tears, and frankly no amount of electronic interchange is a substitute for that gossip and plot."

"The beauty of an office is that it creates terrors of one kind or another, while at home you are obliged to cudgel your own flanks, to create your own fear - and, in the stupor of your domestic surroundings, you fail to make the leap of imagination.

"Working at work may be unproductive, my friends, but working from home is simply a euphemism for sloth, apathy, staring out of the window and random surfing of the internet."

A poll of 1000 UK workers held by NTL:Telewest refuted Johnson's claims, with 20% claiming that office gossip is a distraction to their work. Stephen Beynon, managing director at NTL:Telewest Business, added "Commuting is a hassle for many people, especially for those who have commitments outside of work and need flexibility."

"As this survey shows, many people believe that they can fit much more into their working day when it's done at home."

Del.icio.us Digg Newsvine Reddit Technorati Google