Coronavirus bites government bid to rush workers back to offices as Bank of England warns on economy

The Bank says the recovery has surpassed its expectations but is worried that coronavirus and Brexit could derail that as new restrictions are imposed on the northeast, James Moore writes

Threadneedle Street has kept interest rates on hold, but may soon need to intervene to support the economy (EPA)

Back to the office! That was the message from the government just a few short days ago. Its lickspittles duly chimed in with supportive commentary.

Offices, we love ’em and if you don’t go back to yours you’ll never get promoted. Your boss might not even believe you’re working. It could be you that gets clipped when the redundancy axe falls, so hurry back in there and bring the coffees with you. 

This missed something that progressive, forward-looking and successful companies are increasingly aware of: offices were starting to look like an analogue product for a digital world before any of this happened.