The boss of the world’s biggest building society has said women who work from home potentially put their career growth in jeopardy.
Debbie Crosbie, chief executive of Nationwide, also said that given a choice, women are less likely than men to go into the office.
And that’s problematic for women’s career progression, she hinted, as “being seen…is a really important part of development.”
'Development-watching'
Speaking to Radio 4’s Today programme, Crosbie also said “development-watching” — her term for observing leaders up close — was “vital learning” denied by working from home.
Crosbie’s suggestion is that a “physical presence” in the workplace is the key to getting promoted.
A woman in tech, Chez Gray of the UK’s largest independent job site CV-Library, isn’t so sure.
‘Working from home, a launch pad for my technology career’
Gray has secured five promotions in the last four-and-a-half years — ranging from junior software engineer to senior tech lead — “all while working remotely.”
“Working from home has been a launch-pad for my career in technology,” Gray added yesterday in a statement to Women in Tech.
“But it’s not without its challenges. To succeed, you have to be proactive — build connections, advocate for yourself, and constantly upskill.”
‘Being seen so you can succeed is the old model’
Jennifer Allen, also of CV-Library where she works as a senior product manager, took issue with Crosbie’s “physical presence” stipulation.
“It’s no longer about being physically seen. It’s about showing your value through the quality of your work and staying engaged.
“For women in IT, it’s empowering to know that the old model of being ‘seen’ so you can succeed’ is fading.”
Allen continued in a statement to Women in Tech: “And it’s being replaced by opportunities to excel regardless of location.”
‘What I miss working from home’
Instead of “shouting down” Crosbie “maybe we should applaud her for recognising there could be another way,” says Lucy Smith of Hug.
Taking to LinkedIn, Smith, the social impact organisation’s CSO, sounded sympathetic to Crosbie’s specific points, posting:
“As someone who works from home every day, I can’t ignore what’s missing.
“The camaraderie;… the energy of collaboration, and the unexpected moments of learning that come from simply being around colleagues.
“I’ll never forget how much I learned early in my career just by observing my managers in action, or picking up business skills by osmosis.
“And I’m worried that future generations risk losing out on this too.”
‘Six big US-headquartered firms - some in tech- want everyone back at their desks’
The debate over the value of ‘water-cooler moments’ and Crosbie’s “development-watching,” already seems a bit academic.
That’s because numerous companies used January 2025 to ask their staff to return to the office.
“JPMorgan, Disney, Amazon, Google, Meta, and X all pushed ‘working from home’ as the future [during the pandemic].
“And now they want everyone back at their desks,” Geoff Shepherd, a CXO tech head-hunter wrote on social media.
‘Reconsider this mandate, WPP told’
The world’s largest advertising company, WPP, has told staff that the flexible arrangements it pivoted to during covid, will be replaced by a mandatory four-day-a-week office attendance policy.
The advertising and branding behemoth is now being petitioned by almost 20,000 of its workers — all demanding the “reconsider this mandate.”
For women in tech who enjoy working remotely, and who hope goings-on at an ad giant don’t affect them, findings yesterday from two tech recruiters might come as an unwelcome surprise.
‘Up to 40% of end-users now encouraging office-time’
A jobs agency recruiting IT contractors for London’s Square Mile, Bowers Partnership, says it received “fewer” fully remote roles in January 2025.
“[While] hybrid working is still going strong, particularly in tech…around 30-40% of our clients are encouraging more office-time,” the agency’s founder Natalie Bowers told Women in Tech.
‘WFH conditions for most successful full-time tech job candidates’
And VIQU, a technology recruiter with offices in Birmingham and Southampton, says most full-time roles now come with ‘WFH’ conditions for fresh talent.
VIQU’s Matt Collingwood told Women in Tech: “Since covid [ended], we’ve seen client expectations around working on-site increase year-on-year.
“Today, the majority of clients we’ve worked with on permanent roles in the last year have established boundaries and policies…for the number of working-from-home-days allowed — if offered — for new starters”.
‘Huge tech firm now enforcing five days in the office’
Lauren Wells, senior consultant at specialist IT recruiters RMG Digital believes newcomers probably have the biggest axe to grind.
And that’s the case even if changes to their working arrangements come with 3-months’ notice.
“Not to name names, but this week I’ve heard of a huge tech firm who are enforcing five days in [the] office from March,” Wells, a software engineering recruiter began on Wednesday.
“Their current hybrid pattern is two days in office.
“[So] the issue isn’t working in an office five days a week — in fact many people prefer going to an office over working from home.
“However, if you join a company on the basis you work three days from home and [just] two [days] in the office, the last thing you’d expect …is to suddenly [have to] go in every day.”
‘Women in tech like flexible working over remote working’
At VIQU, where Mr Collingwood is managing director, there’s agreement — insofar as “on-site” is often the preference.
Or at least, like “hybrid” and “flexible”, “on-site” is popular when it is offered as part of the mix, unlike “100% remote” which has lost its shine.
With almost 20 years’ experience placing technology workers across the UK, Collingwood explained to Women In Tech.co.uk:
“I’ve spoken with many women in tech who say they like ‘flexible working’ over ‘remote working’ because it allows them to care for their families.
“Whether that’s care for children; care for elderly family members or care for relatives requiring health-related care and assistance.
“Then, when they’re in the office, they get to concentrate on developing their careers and having face-time with their colleagues.
“But there’s sometimes a lot of pressure on women to take up that care role.
“[And that’s why in]…a number of the conversations I’ve had, women in tech said they don’t actually want to be [fully] remote.”
‘Be in the office to get on; why?’
Dr Kate Coleman, group leader at Frazer-Nash Consultancy would likely object to the notion of ‘getting to develop their careers when they’re in the office,’ as Collingwood put it (in line with Crosbie’s stance).
A provider of subject matter expertise to power and energy firms, Dr Coleman asked in a thread about the Nationwide CEO’s comments:
“For me, the real question is why is it necessary to be in the office to ‘get on’?
“My company has offices all over the UK – which one should I attend to succeed? The one where my team is located; the one where my boss is located or the one where my boss’s boss is located?
“Because they are all different and also miles apart. I get that a certain amount of networking, influencing and so on is required to get noticed. But this [stance from Crosbie] is too reminiscent of the presenteeism I had hoped we left behind after covid.”
‘A lot more flexibility given, post-pandemic’
In her BBC interview, the building society boss said: “Post the pandemic, there has been a lot more flexibility given; not just to people who have child caring responsibilities but also to people who have either caring responsibilities.
“I’m a great fan of that. I just think that we’ve got to be really careful of making sure women get the chance to be present in the business-place as well, because being seen – and then seeing other leaders – is a really important part of their development. We need to be careful that we don’t inadvertently prevent women from taking opportunities by [them] not being in the office”.
‘Can’t keep quiet -- about the former project manager’s comments’
To his online followers, Dan Reed, head of digital servicing for small business at Barclaycard Payments, admitted he ‘can’t keep quiet’ after listening to Crosbie.
Crosbie’s interview with Radio 4 on December 31st 2024 is here (from about 18:20 onwards).
“Why is that, I wonder?” started Reed, citing Crosbie, a former project manager for Clydesdale Bank, saying in her interview that Nationwide found its female staff were less likely than male staff to attend the office.
“Is it because women are, predominantly, expected to be responsible for childcare, school drop off / pick up, and general wrap-around trad-wife roles? As well as their actual job, too?
“If so, fix that. Help to change the societal narrative that expects this of women.”
‘Women less likely to come into the office’
Almost as if he was addressing Crosbie directly, Reed added: “Don’t dangle this almost-threat of being held back.
“[Instead] maybe focus on changing the why [behind] women [being] less likely to come into the office.”
At present, however, it is the husband of Rebecca Denny, founder of the Charity Spark, who is apparently just as likely to not go into the office.
‘Removes sole responsibility for looking after family’
Denny shared online: “Last week my husband came home with a bit of a bombshell — his employer wants all employees in, full-time, from March 3rd 2025.
“Their current flexible working policy has been in place for several years on…[the] basis of 60% in-office, including a Monday or Friday.
“It’s been incredibly beneficial for our family and many others…[as] it has enabled a spouse to work on their own career — without having to be solely responsible for looking after the family Monday-to-Friday.
“With homeworking, [looking after family could] be shared. [But] this sudden shift not only disrupts our family life but also [the lives of] thousands of others within the company, who have made significant life choices based on the existing policy.”
‘Remote jobs have worked in tech for a decade’
Mr Shepherd, the CXO tech head-hunter who runs iSource Group, says there’s one obvious reason why at least some employers are recanting on flexible working:
“Some jobs suit remote. Yes, people enjoy the flexibility. And it’s worked well in tech for over a decade.
“[But] people take the pi**. By no means everyone — but enough people have done it to ruin it for everyone else.”
‘Incredibly out of touch’
Lord Stuart Rose, the former boss of Marks & Spencer and Asda, said on January 20th 2025 that working from home is creating a generation who are “not doing proper work.”
He was later criticised for being “incredibly out of touch.”
The retail tycoon told BBC Panorama: “We have regressed in this country in terms of working practices, productivity and in terms of the country’s wellbeing, I think, by 20 years in the last four.”
Despite Lord Rose’s ‘regression’ alert, “Is this truly a step forward” was what Ms Denny rhetorically asked of her husband being forced back to the workplace (from March).
“Mandating a return to the office does feel a bit like rewinding progress, doesn’t it?” Ms Bowers echoed to Women in Tech.
‘Flexibility, a huge draw for women in tech’
The boss of Bowers Partnership added: “Smart companies realise that flexibility is a huge draw for top talent, especially women in tech.
“Why? Because it’s much less about Zoom calls in pyjamas, and much more about accessibility, balance, and breaking down barriers.
“For some, it’s also about avoiding costly, stressful, inefficient commuting while for others, it’s about juggling family commitments. Options on how you work — not mandating where — send a clear signal that a company or employer values its workers’ time and wellbeing.”
Simon Moore
Managing Director at Moore News Ltd, Simon Moore is a journalist with NCTJ-approved journalism training, who has worked inside the newsrooms of local, consumer and national media titles.
He today writes news and features for trade publications specialising in freelancing, small business and the self-employed. Simon’s articles have been linked to by The Daily Telegraph and the biggest newspaper website in the world, MailOnline.