Since technology allows many employees to work from home, fewer people now travel to offices in city centres every day. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

There are undeniable disadvantages. Shops, cafés and restaurants in business districts depend on office workers, and when those workers stay at home, many of these businesses lose customers and some are forced to close. Remote employees may also suffer. Without daily contact with colleagues, some feel isolated, and younger staff in particular miss the informal learning that happens when they can simply ask a more experienced person at the next desk.

However, the benefits are greater and affect far more people. The most important is the end of the daily commute. An employee who used to spend two hours a day travelling gains that time for family, exercise or rest, and saves a considerable amount on fares or fuel. Fewer journeys also mean less congestion and lower carbon emissions, which benefits everyone in the city, not only remote workers. Moreover, companies can recruit talented staff who live far away, while cities can turn empty offices into much-needed housing. The problems mentioned above, by contrast, can be reduced: firms can bring teams together on certain days, and city centres can adapt by attracting residents and visitors.

In conclusion, while working from home harms some city-centre businesses and can leave employees feeling isolated, these problems can be managed. The savings in time, money and pollution are larger and more lasting, so I believe this development is positive overall.