Arr, the Brits be yearnin' to sail back to their office ships to dodge the hefty winter warm-up treasures, says the report, matey!
2023-10-27
Arrr, me mateys! The land o' UK be sufferin' a mighty inflation fer two long years now. Prices be reachin' new heights, be it fer energy or other goods. 'Tis makin' the folks ponder their very way o' life, arrr!
Working Brits are considering returning to the office in winter due to the cost-of-living crisis, particularly the expensive heating bills in the coldest months. Jo Bertram, managing director of Virgin Media O2 Business, stated that workers are increasingly heading into the office for the free heating and the opportunity to build stronger working relationships. Additionally, many workers are opting for cheaper transport options such as public transport or walking to save costs.According to a survey by O2 Business, around 20% of workers find it a luxury to work from home in winter due to the soaring costs, with 56% of workers heading into the office for four days or more because of the spike in heating costs. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis in the UK is attributed to steady inflation rates.
The UK's energy watchdog, Ofgem, has announced potential price hikes for energy to support struggling energy suppliers, but passing those costs onto customers has put them under intense financial pressure. Some areas in the UK have seen significant increases in annual heating bills, pushing many households to delay turning on their heating.
Chris O'Shea, CEO of the largest household energy supplier in the UK, warns that the worst is yet to come as people are canceling direct debits and struggling to pay their bills. The trend of workers returning to the office started in summer 2022 when workers in London sought ways to cut costs, opting for public transport or biking to work instead of working from home.
Analyst Uswitch found that those working from home in January 2023 were likely to pay around $820 compared to approximately $600 for those who commute. Overall, the cost-of-living crisis has prompted many Brits to consider going back to the office for the benefits of free heating and cost savings.