Manchester United staff given week off as Sir Jim Ratcliffe cracks down on working from home

Sir Jim Ratcliffe believes the culture among Manchester United's non-playing staff needs to change. Photo: Shutterstock/Tolga Akmen

Manchester United staff have been given until next Wednesday to decide whether they want to voluntarily resign under Ineos' new push to end working from home.

Staff » Manchester United, not associated with football, was asked to resign in an email sent to the entire club on Tuesday.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United's new minority shareholder who has taken over day-to-day management of the club, is making it mandatory for United staff to work from their offices in Manchester or London. from 1 June.

Employees who do not wish to comply can resign and are offered early payment of their annual bonus.

It is understood that the same conditions are offered to employees who already work exclusively in offices . This does not include employees who are scouts or playing staff. United has asked staff to confirm whether they want to resign by June 5.

A United spokesman insisted the move «is not a voluntary redundancy programme». “The club recognizes that not everyone wants to work in an office full time and has given employees who do not want to return to the office the option to leave now.”

The announcement comes as Ratcliffe plans to cut 25 to 30 percent of the club's staff amid concerns that the organization is too bloated.

Corporate restructuring firm Interpath Advisory was appointed in March to oversee the major project. campaign to cut costs at the club to improve efficiency and identify where savings can be made.

United had 1,112 staff as of June 30 last year, according to the club's latest accounts, which is the current a record figure. highest among the Premier League's big six.

Plans to end working from home were outlined to staff in an email sent last Friday. United say they will convert the Trinity Club, Knights Lounge and the 1999 Suite in the Old Trafford East Stand into office space.

United's London office is also undergoing changes to provide additional space for staff, and some teams will also be based at Ineos' Knightsbridge office.

Ratcliffe has shown he is not afraid to make unpopular decisions in an attempt to reset the culture and make United successful again. He recently sent an email to staff complaining about the lack of order and cleanliness at Old Trafford and Carrington.

Other cost-cutting measures included telling staff they would have to pay their own way to travel to the FA . The Cup final was a break from tradition, although staff did receive a free ticket to last Saturday's Wembley spectacle, where United beat Manchester City 2-1.