Anas Sarwar has called for staff to get back to the office due to the impact of working from home on struggling city centres.
The Scottish Labour leader has told the Daily Record that getting round a table boosted “creativity and productivity” as he called for a post-covid rebalancing.
Lockdown led Scots working from home in a bid to contain soaring infection levels and keep people safe. However, the practice has continued after the pandemic as staff conclude they can do their jobs without coming to the office.
Businesses, particularly in the food, hospitality and retail sectors, say they have suffered from fewer workers being in towns and cities during the day.
Sarwar, who has said economic growth will be his top priority if Labour wins in 2026, told the Record: “Covid has changed our economy fundamentally.
"That has posed opportunities, it has changed cultures but it has also I think had unintended consequences."
He added: “We are not saying return to the full time having to be in the office, but let’s get the balance right of working at home when it is appropriate but also getting people back in the office and that creativity and productivity that comes from people getting round the table making decisions.”