UK: Remote working request rejected by court

A senior manager at a UK regulatory authority has had her demand to work from home full-time has been denied by a judge.

Why it matters: The judge ruled that remote working is not suitable for fast-paced exchanges and limits non-verbal communication. Remote working may not be well suited for planning meetings or training events where rapid discussion occurs.

The bottom line: The judge's decision highlights the challenges of remote work and the importance of in-person communication.

Additional material: 

Financial Times report on the case.

Extracts from Judge Robert Richter judgement: 

"It is the experience of many who work using technology that [remote working] is not well suited to the fast-paced interplay of exchanges which occur in, for example, planning meetings or training events when rapid discussion can occur on topics.”

“…a limitation to the ability to observe and respond to non-verbal communication which may arise outside of the context of formal events but which nonetheless forms an important part of working with other individuals.”