John Lewis Directs Staff to Majority In-Person Work

John Lewis Partnership has instructed its head office staff to spend the majority of their working time in person, either in company offices, meeting suppliers or visiting stores and customers, as part of efforts to improve business performance.

The directive, outlined in an internal memo to central teams including human resources and finance departments, calls for employees to be present "more in person than not." The retailer, which owns the John Lewis department stores and Waitrose supermarkets, stated the change aims to enhance collaboration, accelerate decision-making and foster creativity. A spokesman emphasized that no formal policy shift has occurred, with the company remaining committed to a hybrid model that balances in-person interaction with flexibility. "While some in our industry are returning to the office full time, our policy hasn't changed and we are committed to the flexibility that comes with a hybrid approach," the spokesman said. "To drive collaboration, faster decision-making and creativity, our goal is for central teams to be in the office, with suppliers and visiting shops more than they are at home, so we are working with them to make this happen."