Retail Giants Redefine Work Model: Return to Office with Strategic Focus
Londen, woensdag, 18 juni 2025.
Major British retail brands like Primark and John Lewis are redefining their work policies by calling employees back to the office. Starting September, Primark expects product teams to be physically present four days per week, while John Lewis requests commercial teams to be on-site three days per week. This shift is strategically driven by the belief that personal collaboration is crucial for productivity, creativity, and team development. The decision reflects a broader trend in the retail sector to re-evaluate hybrid working and emphasise the added value of physical meetings.
New Work Strategy in Retail Sector
Primark has instructed its product teams to work in the office four days per week from September, with the exception of Friday, when employees can still work from home and finish at 14:00 [1]. A Primark spokesperson emphasised that physical collaboration strengthens productivity, creativity, and development [1].
John Lewis Redesigns Work Policy
Simultaneously, John Lewis has asked its commercial teams to work three days per week in the office, in stores, or with suppliers, effective July [2]. The company, currently in a transformation phase, sees this measure as crucial for improving collaboration and team development [2].
Broader Industry Trend
This shift is not an isolated phenomenon. Other retail companies like Boots and JD Sports have taken similar steps, recalling employees fully back to the office [2]. The trend indicates a strategic re-evaluation of hybrid working models in the retail sector [GPT].