A billionaire mining boss who has already banned working from home has said he wants to stop the company’s staff from “popping in for a coffee on the side of the road”.
Chris Ellison, the CEO of Australian miner Mineral Resources, said he wanted to make the Perth headquarters as attractive as possible because he didn’t want staff to “leave the building”.
He said, “I want to keep them captive all day. I don’t want them to leave the building.
“I don’t want them to walk down the street for a cup of coffee. We found out a few years ago how much it costs to wander around at lunchtime.”
He said the headquarters has a restaurant, a gym and “other facilities that keep them working there.”
Mr Ellison, who is worth $1.2 billion (£900 million) according to Forbes, told analysts during an earnings call: “I have a no-work-from-home policy. I hope everyone adheres to that, the sooner the better.
“We cannot have people working three days a week and receiving a salary five days a week.”
In addition to the nurses and doctors on the floor, the company employs nine psychologists who focus on mental health issues. There is also a crèche, which charges AUD20 per day (£10.34) to help parents with their busy schedules and childcare costs.
“Leave the little rascals at the neighbors,” said Mr. Ellison. “We’ll feed them, but Mommy and Daddy work in our office.”
The office reportedly features a top chef serving seafood, Asian fusion and sushi for around AUD10, a special air filtration system that minimizes bacteria, water that meets organic and pesticide-free standards, and an art gallery.
Mr Ellison, originally from New Zealand, co-founded Mineral Resources in 2006 as part of a merger of three mining companies. The son of a pig farmer, Mr Ellison began his career as a crane operator after leaving school at the age of 15.
Companies around the world are hiring so-called experience consultants to make their offices more attractive as workers become reluctant to return to their desks after the pandemic.
One employer is stocking its office with essential oils to reduce staff stress levels, the BBC reported this year, while another is investigating which colour schemes motivate employees.
Mr Ellison’s stance is unusual in Australia, where official statistics show about four in 10 employees work from home at least once a week.
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Companies in Australia, which this week introduced a “right to be offline” policy allowing employees to ignore their bosses’ late-night messages, are now beginning to crack down on home working.
Australian bank ANZ warned last year that workers could face lower bonuses if they don’t spend at least half their working week in the office.
Similar trends are taking place in the UK, where bosses fear that working from home is damaging productivity and team culture. While some companies are forcing workers to return, others, including major law firms and accountants, are starting to monitor office attendance.
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