Highlights
Do you want your team in the office, or are you happy for them to work from home? It’s not a decision you should take too lightly. Here’s why…
The way we work has changed dramatically over the past few years, hasn’t it? The global pandemic created a huge shift towards remote working, and now businesses are divided on the right way to move forward.
Some businesses are eager to bring everyone back to the office, while others are keen to keep things flexible. If you’re wondering what’s best for your business, it may be time to look at the big picture: What works, what doesn’t, and what do you need to keep an eye on?
Let’s face it, working from home has its perks. No commute, fewer interruptions, and a chance to keep up with the laundry between meetings. For many employees, it can boost productivity, improve work-life balance, and reduce stress.
But remote working isn’t just about employee happiness.
Businesses forcing staff back into full-time office work are losing people – particularly their top talent. A recent study found that companies with strict Return to Office policies saw a 14% jump in employees quitting… and these aren’t the ones you can replace in a snap. We’re talking about senior staff and highly skilled workers who take a lot of knowledge with them.
On top of that, finding new people to fill those roles is taking longer (23% longer, according to the report). And it’s not cheap to hire replacements, either. Today’s employees want flexibility, and businesses offering remote or hybrid roles are getting a recruitment advantage.
Where things get difficult is around the issue of data security. Although working from home or a coffee shop might sound great, public Wi-Fi can be like an open door for cyber criminals.
Your business data could also be at risk if your employees work from their personal devices (which might not have seen a software update in months) or if they work from a home PC they share with their partner or kids.
The good news is that there are some simple ways to protect your business while allowing your employees to work flexibly.
Extra security measures like multi-factor authentication (that extra code you’re asked to enter when you log in) can help to keep things locked down. And a little training to teach your team how to spot email scams can also make a huge difference.
So, should you bring your employees back to the office or embrace remote working? There’s no “one-size-fits-all” answer.
Some businesses thrive with everyone in the office, while others find that giving people the choice brings out the best in their employees. The real trick is finding what works for your team.
Just remember: If you’re letting people work from anywhere, don’t skimp on security. A flexible approach with strong protections can give you the best of both worlds – happy employees and a secure business.
If you’d like advice on how to keep your business data secure while supporting flexible working, we can help. Get in touch.
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This special edition of our Leading London series brings together the partners behind the rollout of the City of London Corporation’s new unified network, a major upgrade designed to strengthen public services and improve connectivity across the Square Mile and beyond.
The panel included:
- Sam Collins, Assistant Director of Digital and Data, City of London Corporation
- Chelsea Chamberlin, Chief Technology Officer, Roc Technologies
- Scott McKinnon, Chief Security Officer, Palo Alto Networks
- Rhod Morgan, Chief Operations Officer, Vorboss
- Elliot Townsend, Senior Director, Juniper Networks
- Christa Elizabeth Norton, Marketing Director, Roc Technologies
Together, they explored how the new network will improve public services, strengthen cyber resilience and support a more connected, future-ready City.
For many landlords and building managers, the word “wayleave” feels like the responsible route whenever a fibre circuit is being installed on their property. It sounds formal and safe – a neat legal box to tick.
In many cases, however, a wayleave adds unnecessary complexity and delays, frustrates tenants, and can expose landlords to long-term legal risks.
At Vorboss, we’ve connected thousands of office spaces across London without a wayleave, keeping landlords in full control and getting tenants online faster.
What is a wayleave?
A wayleave is a written agreement between a landowner and a telecoms operator. It gives the operator permission to install and keep equipment on private property.
What many people don’t realise is that signing a wayleave also activates “Code rights” under the Electronic Communications Code. These rights go beyond simple permission, they give the operator legal powers to stay on the property indefinitely, access it when needed, and even refuse removal of their equipment in certain situations.
For a typical connection into a commercial building in London, a wayleave can make the fibre installation process slower, more expensive, and limit the landlord’s flexibility long term.
Why a wayleave isn’t required for standard in-building fibre connections
For a standard in-building fibre connection serving a tenant, a wayleave isn’t a legal requirement. Important protections, like building access, fire safety, repairing any damage, and removing equipment, are already covered by the tenant’s lease and usual building rules.
If no wayleave is signed, no Code rights are triggered, meaning the landlord retains full control and the installation exists under a simple, fully revocable licence.
In practice, this gives landlords far more protection and flexibility:
- No legal lock-in – the telecoms operator has no long-term rights to stay or refuse removal.
- Landlords keep full control – equipment can be moved or removed when the building changes.
- Faster fibre installation – no time lost in drafting contracts or solicitor reviews.
- Happier tenants – connections go live quicker; tenants get to move in faster.
By contrast, signing a wayleave and granting Code rights introduces a complex and expensive legal process for any fibre removal or relocation. This can take at least 18 months, plus potential court or tribunal proceedings, making it slower, and far less flexible for the landlord.
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