An Australian mining firm is facing backlash after its boss claimed that employees leaving the office for coffee breaks is costing the company too much money.
During a financial results presentation on August 28, Chris Ellison, managing director of Mineral Resources Ltd, expressed his desire to “keep staff captive all day long” and prevent them from leaving the building.
Ellison said, as quoted by BBC, “I want to keep them in the office from the moment they arrive in the morning. I don’t want them stepping out for a coffee. We’ve calculated the cost of those breaks over the years.”
He urged the mining industry to adopt similar policies, emphasising that the cost of remote work is too high. “We can’t afford to pay for five days of work when people are only working three or four days a week.”
The company’s head office in Perth is equipped with a range of amenities, including a restaurant, nine staff psychologists, a gym, and other facilities designed to encourage employees to remain on-site. The company enforces a strict “no work from home” policy.
Mineral Resources’ commitment to office culture includes its on-site daycare center, which can accommodate up to 105 children. Ellison explained that this arrangement allows parents to drop off their kids and work without leaving the building. He added that having doctors and nurses on site ensures that parents can concentrate on their work.
Last week, the head of London-based smartphone maker Nothing declared a shift to fully office-based work, ending their hybrid model. In an all-staff email, he said that while remote work may benefit some businesses, it does not meet their company’s specific needs and potential.
During a financial results presentation on August 28, Chris Ellison, managing director of Mineral Resources Ltd, expressed his desire to “keep staff captive all day long” and prevent them from leaving the building.
Ellison said, as quoted by BBC, “I want to keep them in the office from the moment they arrive in the morning. I don’t want them stepping out for a coffee. We’ve calculated the cost of those breaks over the years.”
He urged the mining industry to adopt similar policies, emphasising that the cost of remote work is too high. “We can’t afford to pay for five days of work when people are only working three or four days a week.”
The company’s head office in Perth is equipped with a range of amenities, including a restaurant, nine staff psychologists, a gym, and other facilities designed to encourage employees to remain on-site. The company enforces a strict “no work from home” policy.
Mineral Resources’ commitment to office culture includes its on-site daycare center, which can accommodate up to 105 children. Ellison explained that this arrangement allows parents to drop off their kids and work without leaving the building. He added that having doctors and nurses on site ensures that parents can concentrate on their work.
Last week, the head of London-based smartphone maker Nothing declared a shift to fully office-based work, ending their hybrid model. In an all-staff email, he said that while remote work may benefit some businesses, it does not meet their company’s specific needs and potential.