Mick Clifford: The price of peace and pyjamas — is remote work a cultural ticking time bomb?

Remote work has transformed lives, but the loss of in-person interaction may carry unseen long-term costs, especially for Gen Z

Denis O'Brien didn’t get where he is in terms of his wealth through a 40-hour week with appropriate breaks, shift allowance and paternity leave, all of which are important to plenty of people.

I have great social skills, says I to myself in the mirror this morning. Yes I do. No you don’t, says anybody I subsequently asked. You’re a disaster.

Why this momentary lapse into introspection? It’s because I am among the legions who now work remotely. This week, we were told that “social skills have fallen off a cliff since the start of remote working”. This came from Neil McDonnell, chief executive of the small business group, ISME. He was reacting to, in 90% agreement with according to himself, an outburst by Denis O’Brien about the concept of remote working.