Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley generated a backlash from viewers for his comments on working from home on this morning's ITV show. During an interview with Government minister Rachel Maclean, Richard was keen to ask why civil servants were still working from home.
He asked: "Minefield number three, before you leave us, and that is civil servants. We pay their wages. Why aren't they at work? Why aren't they at the office? Why are half of them staying at home, particularly Mondays and Fridays and sunny days, what is going on?".
The 66-year-old journalist then added there was "no way of checking how much work" civil servants are doing. He also asked why they couldn't go "back to their desks".
"A lot of them are back at work... I think the economy as a whole has moved to a more hybrid working pattern," Rachel replied before adding: "We have had a pandemic, things have changed, people work differently. If people who are working from home, it’s incumbent on their managers and ministers such as myself to make sure they are still delivering and actually, that’s what we’re seeing in the Home Office".
"To be honest with you, I think it is incumbent you get them back to their desk," Richard replied: "In the days when I was a newspaper reporter, if I phoned my editor and said 'I'm working from home today', trust me I would have had a P45 in the mail the next day, I mean..."
His co-host Susanna Reid then cut across saying: "Times have changed though to be fair". Before Rachel added: "And so would I have done when I started out my career honestly. But it is very much about the performance and delivering on the people's priorities".
The remark received a wave of backlash from viewers. Mark Scales tweeted: "People can and do work just as effectively from home as in the office. Demonising home working is not productive. #GMB #WFH #workingfromhome #CivilService". David Hunter added: "Richard M needs to get in the real world . The world has changed. We have proved wfh can work. He has a real chip on his shoulder about it. #gmb".
Dave Metcalfe-Carr posted: "#GMB I'm a civil servant who works from home still. My work is assessed as I have target to meet. RMs hypothesis we're all skiving is ridiculous". Louise Tolerton said: "Listening to @GMB and what an archaic view from @richardm56 on working from home. Thankfully @susannareid100 providing some balance. P.S I don’t work for the civil service! #GMB".
Tim Wilson added: "#gmb Richard Madeley hasn’t realised that people have computers now compared to the dark ages when he started working" and Imogen tweeted: "Why does Richard Madeley care so much where people are working their desk jobs? What difference does it actually make to him? #GMB". Kate Burrows added: "#GMB why is Madeley so against working from home? I agree some jobs you have to be there but most desk jobs can easily be done at home!".
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV and ITV Hub from 6am.
