City giant's bid to lure workers back to the office (2025)

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Executives at an FTSE giant have started offering free lunches on Fridays in a bid to lure its workers back into the office.

WPP's team is expected to come into the office at least four days a week starting from April 1.

The new rules require employees to travel in at least two Fridays a month, with the company rolling out a free-lunch Friday in the hopes of appealing to staff, The Times first reported.

The advertising giant's decision to enforce the rule has been slammed by some employees, who launched an online petition protesting the rules.

Employees working at WPP headquarters in London had previously only been required to go into the office three days a week.

In an email written to everyone at the company in January, chief executive Mark Read said he believed 'we do our best work when we are together in person'.

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He added: 'It's easier to learn from each other, it's a better way to mentor colleagues starting out in the industry, and it helps us win pitches as a truly integrated team.'

WPP - with a 110,000-strong global workforce - became the latest employer to move away from the pandemic-era of working, as companies across the UK continue to crack down on working from home.

WPP bosses said data from across its agencies had shown higher levels of office attendance resulted in 'stronger employee engagement, improved client survey scores and better financial performance'.

But the company said it would not be returning to pre-pandemic ways of working and individual agencies within the group had been permitted to set their own policies for flexible working.

The company also said it takes individual circumstances into account, with a formal approval process for exceptions to the new rules.

Mr Read said: 'For all our technological sophistication, we remain a people business. Across everything we do, our success still relies on the fundamentals of human connection, creativity and relationships.

'More of our clients are moving in this direction [working in the office] and expecting it of the teams who work with them.'

Earlier this month, City AM revealed two of WPP's flagship advertising agencies have been unable to introduce the company's full return-to-office plans due to an insufficient number of desks.

Both Ogilvy and Grey's London offices were unable to rearrange their offices before the policy began on April 1.

WPP has two London sites at the Sea Containers building and Rose Court, but is preparing to open new London offices on the site of the former Financial Times building by Southwark Bridge.

When approached by MailOnline, WPP confirmed they have introduced complimentary lunches on Fridays to enhance the experience of coming into work for employees.

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