No More Remote Work? Lincolnshire Mayor's Bold Decision to Bring Staff Back to the Office!

Greater Lincolnshire’s Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns has taken a firm stance against remote work, announcing that all new hires must work in the office rather than from home. This decision was underscored by a social media post featuring a meme of Squidward from SpongeBob SquarePants, next to a gravestone inscribed with “Remote work, 2020 – 2024,” signaling a definitive end to this work trend. Jenkyns, fulfilling her election promise, emphasized that every role is office-based as part of her leadership vision.

Contrasting this directive, Lincolnshire County Council, which is also governed by the Reform party, has not followed suit. Councillor Danny Brookes confirmed that employees will still be allowed to work from home, highlighting a commitment to cost-saving measures while applying a ‘smarter working policy’ that blends home and office work. Most meetings currently utilize Microsoft Teams to cut costs and reduce commuting’s carbon footprint.

Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, previously advocated for the elimination of work-from-home policies, arguing they enhance productivity. However, the mixed messages from the council and the mayor set the stage for a contentious debate on the future of workplace arrangements in Lincolnshire.