Lord Alan Sugar says it is time to get 'bums back in the office'


Lord Alan Sugar, most famous for his role on the BBC show The Apprentice, has spoken out in favor of workers returning to this office. “They’ve got to get their bums back into the office,” he said in a recent interview with the BBC. This comes as a debate rages on over the future of working from home following the Covid-19 pandemic. Notably cynical in his outlook, Lord Sugar has also referred to Brexit as “the biggest disaster in [his] lifetime,” stating that rejoining the EU might be beneficial for the country.

Lord Sugar’s comments came as he marked the launch of series 19 of The Apprentice. He disclosed his disapproval of companies using artificial intelligence (AI) in their hiring processes, stating that it is “a bit cheating.” He acknowledged that the show tries to keep up with modern technology despite its contestants having no access to the internet, mobile phones, or calculators. Conversely, in the real world, AI is being used more frequently by both recruiters and applicants.

Additionally, Lord Sugar’s controversial views have extended to the topic of working from home. While he has identified that software engineers with ideas at the wee hours of the morning might work best at home, he feels that others should return to office environments. In his opinion, apprentices would benefit the most since they need interaction with colleagues to learn from them.

In previous statements, other business magnates, such as the former chairman of Marks and Spencer, Stuart Rose, have publicly criticized working from home. Lord Sugar agrees, adding that he believes it’s a problem that young people “just want to sit at home.” He contends that mixing with colleagues is a crucial element of learning from more experienced colleagues.

Despite his controversial and candid viewpoints, however, Lord Sugar has no interest in pursuing politics. In his words, “I have no intention of putting myself forward to be the Prime Minister because it’s an untenable and thankless job.

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