“Remote working is here to stay, but it comes with risks”, Senedd committee warns

Ministers say the ambition would be achieved by ‘driving changes to Wales’ working culture’ that would give more people the choice to work in a way that helps their productivity as well as their work-life balance.

But a Senedd Committee has warned that although there are many benefits, permanent remote working will have serious impacts on the economy, businesses and the workforce.

It comes after the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee launched an inquiry and commissioned experts from Wales and across Europe, to assess the long-term impacts this could have on the likes of towns and city centres, workforce and skills, health, inequalities, environment and transport.

The committee believes that the Welsh Government must “mainstream” equality into its policy for ‘remote working’ and ‘flexible working’ more generally so that no one is left behind.

Those on the committee heard evidence about many advantages for workers of the flexibility of remote working.

Concerns were raised that the “highly skilled and highly paid” are likely to benefit most from this policy, creating a risk of further economic inequality – the Welsh Government must look at the wider socio-economic impacts of the remote working policy.

The committee is also calling on the next Senedd to scrutinise the Welsh Government’s plans to close the digital divide and support individuals and communities with digital connectivity and digital skills to adapt to the ‘new normal’.

There’s a widespread hope and expectation that a healthier ‘hybrid’ model of flexible working will emerge, where people sometimes work in the office and sometimes at home or in a co-working space for the rest of the time.

The committee also heard how urban centres are likely to lose if people work remotely, however it is thought this could advantage ‘left behind’ town centres and local neighbourhoods.

As a result the committee is calling on the next Welsh Government to “develop a plan to maximise those gains and ‘reimagine’ town and city centres as part of its COVID-19 recovery plans”.

The committee says it “believes a coordinated effort is needed across government, to include plans to support retail, community cohesion, transport and other infrastructure.”

The Welsh Government is also piloting new ‘community hubs’ for people to work from, but the Committee is concerned that there are gaps in evidence about the existing network of co-working spaces in Wales.

However the committee says it believes the Welsh Government should map out existing network of hubs and that such developments should support local communities and high streets as well as supporting innovation and collaboration.

Russell George MS, Chair of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee said:“The office isn’t dead but remote working is here to stay, and it comes with risks.

“The “Great Homeworking Experiment” has busted myths and demonstrated huge environmental benefits.

“But the Welsh Government’s ambition for 30% of workers to continue working ‘at or close to home’ has far-reaching implications.

“A lot of work is needed by the Welsh Government to maximise the potential benefits of remote working.

“It seems clear that a 30% ambition is achievable, but as well as obvious environmental gains, the wider impacts must be measured and mitigated.

“There must be a plan to deal with the move of economic activity out of city centres and to ensure the benefit is felt by local communities.

“Higher skilled, better paid workers will benefit most, and the implications of this for the rest of the workforce, and for public funding, need to be considered.

“There are obvious benefits to remote working, and there are obvious concerns, it’s vital that as we recover from COVID-19 that we get the balance right for our communities and that no one is left behind.”