HarperCollins staff to return to office for at least two days a week

HarperCollins staff are to return to the office for at least two days a week from September, as part of a six-month pilot.

Staff were informed of the decision in a town hall meeting yesterday morning (20th May), led by c.e.o. Charlie Redmayne.

The hybrid "two-day-plus model" will see all staff working a minimum of two days per week in the office from 6th September. HarperCollins said this reflects the responses of the majority of staff, 73% of whom indicated a preference to work two or more days in the office in a recent "return to the office" survey.

The move will apply to all staff across HarperCollins sites in London, Glasgow, Honley, Manchester and Dublin, with the exception of supply chain staff, who will be office-based five days per week, and staff with pre-agreed contracts or with flexible working arrangements already in place.

Redmayne said: "Ours is a collaborative business at heart and working face-to-face will always play a key role in our working lives and in our culture; the office is a great place to learn from one another and share ideas and, frankly, it is more fun. This enforced period of remote working has worked well, thanks to the dedication of our tech team and the professionalism of our people in often difficult circumstances. Having taken feedback from our people, we will be piloting a hybrid model from early September that will enable everyone at HarperCollins to enjoy increased balance and flexibility and the benefits of the office."

There was some negativity on social media to the news, something that also greeted Hachette's announcement of a three-day office working policy last month. However, staff approached by The Bookseller yesterday seemed broadly supportive of the move. One employee said: "The feeling in the two teams I work in is very positive. I think we're all very much looking forward to going back in. Two days a week sounds good to us and having that flexibility is really good."

They added: "There's always going to be a few complainers, but I think overall it's a positive feeling."

Another said they would have preferred to have had more than two days in, commenting: "Overall I think it's positive. I think it's just on a personal level I was hoping it would more be the Hachette model, with three days in, just because I think that's the kind of person I am. But I appreciate maybe that's not for everyone, so I think that they are being quite sensible."

They added: "I'm slightly worried that two days isn't enough to feel connected in the way that we used to feel so connected. But it's just two days mandatory, so it may end up [with] people doing more than that, I suppose."

Alongside HarperCollins and Hachette, other publishers have also revealed their office plans in recent weeks. Bloomsbury is planning to ask employees to work two days a week from the office in future, and plans for a partial return from 21st June, the day when the government's strategy may see legal limits on social contact lifted. It plans for a full return on 7th September.

Bonnier Books UK intends to open the doors to its new premises in Bloomsbury Square from the beginning of July, phasing in a return to office working, although Jonathan Perdoni, chief finance officer and chief operating officer, said the return would happen "gradually", with the company "reviewing the government’s advice carefully, while consulting our teams”. Last September, Bonnier chief executive officer Perminder Mann confirmed a permanent move to flexible working once lockdown lifted, with staff permitted to work up to three days from home if they choose.