The BBC is advising its staff to work from home due to a red weather warning for extreme heat issued by the Met Office. The guidance specifically targets news staff in areas covered by the warning, suggesting remote work for those whose roles are not broadcast-critical and can be performed from home. For employees in broadcast-critical roles who must attend BBC buildings or work on location, adherence to official guidance is advised.
The email, sent by chief operating officer Phil Harrold to UK news staff, acknowledged the highest level of alert from the Met Office. This recommendation comes as the UK experiences temperatures potentially reaching 36C (96.8F). The UK Health and Security Agency has issued red heat health alerts for Wednesday and Thursday.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BBC had a more restrictive policy on working from home, allowing it only on specific days. Post-pandemic, the policy has become more flexible, a shift that has drawn criticism, such as BBC Scotland facing backlash from local businesses for allowing its workforce to work in the office only part-time. In March, outgoing director general Tim Davie commented on the BBC needing to prove its value to the public.
More broadly, the BBC is undergoing significant cost-cutting measures, aiming to save £500 million. These efforts include potential redundancies, with up to 2,000 job losses anticipated over the next two years. Matt Brittin, the new director general, confirmed that more than a quarter of these redundancies will affect editorial and broadcasting teams. A BBC spokesperson stated that the corporation is continuing to broadcast news as normal during the heatwave and that staff in affected areas have been informed they can consider working from home if their roles permit.