No set number of office days for PRH staff before end of year

Staff at Penguin Random House will not have company mandated office days introduced until at least the end of this year.

The publisher is continuing to explore its hybrid working model, announced in July, where office attendance is voluntary. Offices began reopening from 19th July for those who wished to use them, taking a phased approach based on 50% occupancy initially, to maintain the safety of employees. 

PRH aims to use the coming months to test hybrid working and is using a decentralised approach, where different departments are trialling their own systems. This will last at least until the end of this year.

In an email to staff on 13th September, PRH UK c.e.o. Tom Weldon said this was to "fully experiment with ways of working that bring together the best of office and remote working" and feedback from teams would be brought together in the company's Future of Work forum. He said the company had welcomed more than 800 staff back to the offices over the past eight weeks.

He added: "We will continue to build an approach based on flexibility and trust. We will not mandate days in the office – instead colleagues and managers will work together to agree how best to balance individual, team, and business needs."

All staff will now be able to request to come into the office and each department will manage their numbers on site within the agreed 50% quota. For now, attendance at the office will continue to be voluntary, but the company said it would encourage all colleagues to come into the office for an induction day if they are comfortable.

Weldon added: "We recognise we are still living through a pandemic and your wellbeing continues to be our first priority. We ask for all colleagues’ support with protecting everyone’s wellbeing and offering a safe working environment for all by following the measures in place on site."

Safety measures such as social distancing and mask wearing will continue to operate. Staff are also asked to do twice weekly Covid-19 tests when attending the office. 

Weldon said: "This is an exciting new chapter for us as a company as we trial hybrid working and define a future way of working that provides a working environment supporting our high-performing and inclusive culture. Thank you in advance for your patience and flexibility over the coming months."

Last week The Bookseller revealed that Hachette UK and Bloomsbury had changed their office return plans, with some staff not fully returning until October owing to Covid-19 concerns.

Staff at Hachette now have the option of waiting until early October to transition to a new hybrid policy which includes three days in the office. The new way of working started being phased in from June and was expected to come fully into effect on 1st September.

Bloomsbury planned a full return from 7th September, with staff working two days a week in the office, but it has delayed this by almost six weeks. The return date will now be 18th October. 

Pearson is making a decision in October about employees’ return. Bonnier Books UK, which announced a move towards flexible working last September, will be confirming plans soon. A phased return at its new Bloomsbury-based office began back in July.

There will be no change to HarperCollins' plans for hybrid working, which started last week with two days in the office. Pan Macmillan's policy, which does not specify a number of days for employees to come to the office, also remains unchanged.