Primark has instructed staff in its product teams to return to the office four days a week from mid-September, as the Irish retailer joins a growing trend of companies scaling back flexible working arrangements.

The new policy, which takes effect on 15 September at the start of the company's next financial year, applies to product team employees based at Primark's Arthur Ryan House office in Dublin. Workers will retain the ability to work from home on Fridays with an early finish at 2pm.

A Primark spokesperson confirmed the news to Drapers, stating: "After experiencing remote, hybrid, and full-time models in recent years, we will be reintroducing a four-day in-office work week for our product teams. We know that when our product teams are together in-person, it strengthens productivity, creativity and development, ultimately delivering the best offering for our customers."

The company sought to address potential concerns about work-life balance, with the spokesperson adding: "We understand how important balance is and we will continue to offer flexible working hours, and remote working on Fridays with a 2pm finish."

The move represents a significant shift from Primark's previous hybrid working model, introduced in September 2021 following the pandemic, which allowed office-based employees to work from home an average of three days per week.

Primark is not alone in tightening its remote working policies. John Lewis this week informed its commercial teams, including buying and merchandising departments, that they must work in the office, stores, or with brands and suppliers for three days a week starting in July.

The trend follows similar moves by major companies including Amazon, which last year eliminated remote working options entirely for its employees. Industry observers suggest companies are increasingly questioning the effectiveness of hybrid working models implemented during the pandemic.

Primark's decision comes as the retailer faces challenging trading conditions. The company's sales grew by just 0.6 per cent in the first quarter, though it managed to maintain positive growth. Operating profit increased by 5.71 per cent, significantly below the 53 per cent rise achieved across the entire 2024 financial year.

The retailer has also undergone leadership changes this year, with Eoing Tonge appointed as interim chief executive officer to replace Paul Marchant, who left following allegations of improper behaviour towards a female employee.

As more companies reassess their working arrangements, the retail sector appears to be leading the charge back to traditional office-based models, citing benefits to collaboration, creativity, and customer service delivery.

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