London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Sep 15, 2025

Scotland's work from home guidance to be relaxed next week

Scotland's work from home guidance to be relaxed next week

Guidance urging people to work from home wherever possible in Scotland is to be relaxed in favour of a "hybrid" system of office and remote working.

Employers have been asked to phase workers back into spending some time in the office from Monday 31 January.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the move was possible due to a "significant" fall in Covid-19 cases.

But she warned that a "mass return" to offices overnight could run the risk of pushing infection levels up again.

Meanwhile, the requirement for 2m physical distancing in some indoor settings like churches is to be relaxed, while the rules for schools are being "kept under close and regular review".

Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that Covid case numbers in Scotland had fallen by "just over a quarter" in the past week, from an average of 10,000 infections per day to just over 7,000.

The number of people being admitted to hospital with the virus has also fallen, as has the number in intensive care.

Monday marked a "significant return to normality" with nightclubs reopening, curbs on hospitality businesses being eased and crowd limits for indoor events being dropped.

And the first minister said the "significantly improved situation" meant that restrictions could be eased further.

Scottish employers had been urged to enable home working wherever practical, but from Monday this will be replaced by a "hybrid" system.

Ms Sturgeon said: "We would not expect to see a wholesale return to the office next week - indeed, given that the level of infection though falling remains high, a mass return at this stage is likely to set progress back.

"But we know there are many benefits to both employees and employers, and to the economy as a whole, in at least a partial return to the office at this stage."

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes later confirmed there would be no fixed timetable on when all workers should return to the office.

She told BBC Scotland's Drivetime programme: "Setting an arbitrary date doesn't particularly help. We know different businesses will be able to use home working to various degrees."

She added: "As of next Monday, the work from home guidance means that employers should go back to working in a hybrid sense.

"We know that there are many businesses that are unlikely to go back to working as they used to, pre-pandemic.

"But, quite obviously, it's really important for our high streets and city centres that employers have that discretion and employees can work from home and work in an office building."

'Revive our workplaces'


From Friday, the requirement for physical distancing in settings where certain people are exempt from wearing face coverings - like those leading religious services or carrying out some receptionist duties - will be cut from 2m to 1m.

And on the same day, face coverings will no longer be required for any adult taking part in organised activities with children under the age of five.

Ms Sturgeon said she hoped people would enjoy returning to concerts, shows and sporting events, and meeting up with larger groups of friends.

However she urged them to "continue to exercise appropriate care and caution", with the health services still under "immense pressure".

Business groups welcomed the move, with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce saying it would help "revive our workplaces and our town and city centres, which have been hit hard by the absence of office workers".

And CBI Scotland said hybrid working "is here to stay for many firms", adding: "It's up to them and their staff to work together to maximise the benefits of a balanced approach".


Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said decisions about home and office working should be "left to employers and the workers themselves".

He said: "Going forward it is vital that we trust people across Scotland to judge what is best for them and their families."

Mr Ross also called on the government to relax rules on the use of face coverings in schools.

Ms Sturgeon said she knew young people "want to see the back" of masks in schools as soon as possible, but said they provide "important protection" when case numbers among younger age groups remain high.

She said she would not "pluck dates out of mid-air" and would take decisions responsibly.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said a new approach to managing the virus was needed in future, saying that "we cannot expect people to live their lives in perpetual crisis".

He said there should be "clear triggers" for future restrictions, a framework for financial support for firms and workers, and a robust system for testing and contact tracing.

The government is to set out a blueprint for dealing with future outbreaks in the coming weeks, with Ms Sturgeon saying the goal was to "manage the virus less restrictively".

However, she stressed that "living with this does not simply mean giving the virus a free ride", and that the response would need to be "smart" and "flexible".


Scotland to begin 'phased return' to the office from Monday


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
×