Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s rigid “back to work” policy is costing Man Utd money as the club are paying to convert Old Trafford hospitalty suites into temporary offices and back again every week.
United’s staff were all ordered back to the office on a permanent basis in June after Ratcliffe banned flexible working arrangements, but the club do not have enough desk space to accommodate all staff at Old Trafford.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s policy of forcing Man Utd staff to work on-site is costing the club money[/caption]
SunSport has learned that United have responded to the problem by hiring an agency to convert hospitality areas into pop-up offices after every home game.
The conversion process is time-consuming and expensive however, with staff kicked out of their offices the day before the match and not allowed back until two days after the fixture has taken place.
During the period in which the offices are out of action United staff are permitted to work at home.
Back-to-back games at Old Trafford are particularly problematic and leave the temporary office space unusable for the best part of a week.
The temporary offices will be shut for eight days from next Tuesday for example, with United at home against Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before welcoming Chelsea to Old Trafford in the Premier League the following Sunday.
In addition to moving and storing the office equipment extensive electrical safety checks are also required before staff are allowed back in.
While the ban on flexible working is understood to have come from Ratcliffe, United’s senior leadership have embraced it on the grounds that office work promotes a greater sense of cohesion, team spirit and creativity.
While club sources conceded that creating temporary offices has led to additional costs they believe that is offset by the gains in having more staff on site.
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Ratcliffe appointed consultancy firm Interpath Advisory to undertake a root and branch review of United’s cost base after completing his £1.25billion investment in the club last January, which led to the club implementing significant cost-cutting measures.
Around 250 members of staff were made redundant last summer, while anyone unwilling to return to the office permanently by June was let go.
The drive for savings has continued however, with Ratcliffe targetting both executive perks and money spent on poorly-paid match-day staff.
The use of private chauffeurs and company credit cards were among the first areas targeted last season, while senior staff were also dismayed at the removal of other perks ahead of the FA Cup final, such as a pre-match party and hotel accommodation in London.
Rank and file staff members were also hit as free coach travel was also axed for United’s shock win over Manchester City at Wembley, while the ticket allocation was reduced.
The cuts have continued this season at Old Trafford, with packed lunchboxes provided to matchday staff removed and the number of programmes given to corporate fans cut in half.
The biggest saving however came in United’s surprise decision to strip Sir Alex Ferguson of his ambassadorial duties, which will save the club around £2.1million-a-year.
United posted losses of £113.2m for the 2023/24 season last month, with their cost-cutting measures projected to save the club between £40m and £45m in total.
United declined to comment.
On the pitch, the Red Devils lost 2-1 at West Ham on Sunday.
They missed a host of chances in the first half before VAR controversially overruled the referee to award a late penalty to the Hammers, scored by Jarrod Bowen.
