Former England manager Gareth Southgate has spoken out against working from home policies, asserting that young people need in-person mentorship to foster career growth. Speaking during a trip with Neets tsar Alan Milburn, Southgate criticized companies' remote work practices, linking them to the ongoing joblessness crisis among individuals under 25.
Southgate drew parallels to his experience in football, where he benefited from daily coaching and a support network of staff. He believes businesses can provide similar crucial support systems, which he feels are lost with remote work. "It's one of the reasons I hate working from home," he stated.
His comments come ahead of the completion of Milburn's review into why many young people are not in employment, education, or training (Neets). Southgate, who has become a prominent advocate for issues affecting boys and men, emphasized the need for mentors to guide and support junior employees through challenging times.
Furthermore, Southgate targeted the tax burden on businesses, suggesting that increased costs like employers' national insurance contributions discourage firms, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors, from hiring new staff. "If you speak to people that run bars or restaurants, that’s what they would say is inhibiting them from employing young people," he noted.
Milburn's interim report on Neets, while not explicitly mentioning working from home, highlighted the significant economic cost of youth unemployment, estimated at £125bn annually due to lost economic potential, reduced tax revenue, and long-term career impacts. The report also criticized online recruitment methods and the increasing use of AI in hiring processes.
Working from home has seen a substantial rise in popularity since the pandemic. Some business leaders, including JP Morgan's Jamie Dimon and former Marks & Spencer chairman Lord Stuart Rose, have been vocal critics. Conversely, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has expressed concerns about the potential for central London to be "hollowed out" due to a decline in office attendance, even offering commuter discounts.
Milburn is expected to finalize his report on reducing the Neet population, currently estimated at just under 1 million individuals aged 16 to 24, after the upcoming Budget.
