Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

POLL: Should working from home become the new normal after Covid lockdown?

Many are considering whether homeworking could become the norm.

As Scotland looks to a potential end to restrictions after summer, many are thinking about when they might be back in the office or whether homeworking will remain.

After the pandemic hit in March, many found themselves setting up office at their kitchen tables.

Since then many have adapted well and enjoy the benefits home working can bring, whilst others are excited to get back to the office.

In her coronavirus update in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon signalled that even after restrictions lift, homeworking could become a more permanent feature of life.

Homeworking after lockdown

She told MSPs in Holyrood: “We will not advise an immediate return to full office working on August 9.

“Instead we will continue to work with business to agree an appropriate phasing of this, beginning when we enter Level 0, we hope on July 19.

“However, I think many would agree that, as a general principle, homeworking should be more possible post Covid than it was before.

Nicola Sturgeon covid update
Nicola Sturgeon spoke about homeworking on Tuesday.

“So, while recognising that a return to the workplace will be right for many, we will encourage continued support for homeworking where it is possible and appropriate.

“This won’t just assist with control of the virus, it will also help promote wellbeing more generally.”

Despite this, many have pointed to the potential impact on local businesses, which might lose out on the usual custom from workers.

Impact on local business

But one Dundee city centre café owner said such a move could even be beneficial.

Barrie Thomson of Pacamara Food & Drink on Perth Road said: “I don’t think it would be hugely detrimental.

“It may even be beneficial.

“We benefited quite well during the lockdown period because of our location. Where we are on Perth Road, as well as being in the middle of a residential area, it’s also a shopping centre.

“I always felt that when non-essential shops were closed, most people who are working at home like to get out and stretch their legs once a day.”


Do you think homeworking should become a more permanent feature of our life post-lockdown? Have your say in our poll.


At a UK level, Downing Street recently confirmed a leaked report which suggested the government was considering legislation to make homeworking a default for workers able to do so.

It would mean employees would have the right to request homeworking, in the same way they can ask for part-time hours.

Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said a taskforce had been established to examine how things could work post-pandemic.

“What we’re consulting on is making flexible working a default option unless there are good reasons not to,” the spokesperson said.