Manchester United bans remote work

Here's a secret: I am a Manchester United fan!! ❤️😈

And... Sir Alex Ferguson sang “Michelle my Belle” to me many years ago!

Therefore, seeing that Manchester United has decided to ban remote work bothers me A LOT!

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, now overseeing football operations at Manchester United after purchasing a 25% stake in the club, has warned employees to find new jobs if they do not want to comply with his ban on remote working.

Like many businesses, Manchester United adopted a work-from-home policy during the pandemic. However, Sir Jim ended this policy during an all-staff meeting held both in person and via video call in May 2024, part of his tour of Old Trafford and the Carrington training base.

He believes that having everyone on site will significantly boost productivity and working relationships, ultimately helping the team return to top form.

Some of the 1,000 employees were reportedly puzzled by the announcement, especially since United’s London and Manchester offices lack sufficient space to accommodate everyone (So, where are these people going to work from? The football pitch?).

Sir Jim's justification for banning remote work stems from his experience at one of his other companies, where email traffic dropped by 20% when employees were allowed to work from home on Fridays. He provided no other insights on productivity, profit, or revenue, yet concluded that working from home doesn’t work…

It's unclear how a drop in email volume at another company relates to Manchester United, making it seem like remote work is being used as a scapegoat for the club's current poor performance.

Is your company forcing you to return to the office with no real justifications?

YES! BUT I WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING REMOTE!

Stay rebellious,
Michelle