HE’S got some of the largest numbers of young fans on the BBC – but that doesn’t mean that Lord Sugar agrees with a ‘woke’ work ethic.
The business mogul, 78, also slammed one growing work habit and called the modern practice the “kiss of death”.
Lord Sugar has revealed one sure fire way to get fired from working with him[/caption]
He will be joined by 18 new candidates in the boardroom this week[/caption]
He told The Sun: “People come to interviews and the first thing they ask is, ‘How long can I work from home and are my times flexible?’ – they don’t ask about the job at all.
“To me, that’s like the kiss of death, and they don’t get very far past the next question.”
Lord Sugar, who will once again be joined by Tim Campbell and Karren Brady in The Apprentice’s new series, which begins tomorrow night, added it’s all about ‘work ethic’.
He said: “Work ethic has changed in my lifetime and in my opinion it’s getting too relaxed.
“There are companies that have beds there and are allowing people to turn up at 11 in the morning so they can detox from boozing the night before by going and laying in a pod somewhere, to pop out at 3 in the afternoon after having their two minutes of genius.
“Hard graft is gone – and anyone working for me who wants a two-hour lunch break to go to the gym, I’m afraid to say they would have to stay on the treadmill all day because it’s not my culture.”
It’s all part of Lord Sugar’s commitment to hard work – which means he is still keen to shy away from the celebrity aspect of his role, like appearing on other reality shows.
He added: “I’ve been asked to participate in other shows and I respectfully decline.
“I enjoy doing The Apprentice, but there’s a limitation to how much I want to be seen on screen.
“I get approached by production companies who come up with new ideas and new formats, but I say, ‘Not me, go somewhere else’.
“There are some people that will go to the opening of an envelope – but I haven’t got any other shows and I tend to turn down invitations to everything, including chat shows and things like that.”
Nonetheless, he’s not worried about being replaced on the BBC One series anytime soon, or with a new replacement show, ahead of the airing of a 20th anniversary series next year.
Lord Sugar explained: “You’ve got to understand that I am part of the show.
“I’ve done everything, all these tasks these people are asked to do… I’ve loaded lorries, I’ve packed parcels, I’ve travelled all over the world.
“I don’t ask any of these people to do anything that I can’t do myself, and that’s why it all rolls off my tongue when I’m in the boardroom.
“I’m interacting with the people and I think that’s very authentic, and even if I say so myself, it is very authentic.
“Unfortunately, any of the imitations, often copied and often failed, are, with all due respect, pretty pathetic.”
The Apprentice airs Thursday at 9pm on BBC One
