In the return-to-work battle a surprising new player has entered the arena: Martha Stewart.

The media mogul and 81-year-old Sports Illustrated star said she simply doesn't understand how hybrid workers can get all their tasks done by going into the office three days a week.

She fears that if remote or hybrid work continues then America will suffer—criticizing European counterparts who have a more flexible work-life balance.

In an interview with Footwear News, the lifestyle expert said, "You can't possibly get everything done working three days a week in the office and two days remotely.

"Look at the success of France with their stupid…you know, off for August, blah blah blah. That's not a very thriving country," she said, continuing: "Should America go down the drain because people don't want to go back to work?"

The statement that the entire French nation takes a month off work in August is not entirely true, with many shops and attractions remaining open throughout summer, particularly in tourist destinations.

French people do tend to take some of their holiday in July or August—employees are entitled to 30 days of annual leave to use across the year—and even have names for those who take time in July—the juilletistes—or August—the aoûtiens.

Stewart—formerly a stockbroker—added she was on a "rampage" to get people across the U.S. back to the office.

It's not the first time Stewart has made her strong opinions on work known.

In 2021, she shared an anecdote with Harper's Bazaar about calling an employee on a Sunday who told her they couldn't talk because they were in the bath.

The founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia said the interaction made it clear she "couldn't work" with the individual, but said she would have made allowances if the employee had been unable to speak on a Sunday for religious reasons.

“If you can’t talk on a Sunday and you take umbrage that I’m calling you on a Sunday—you know, if you are a terribly religious person, I take that into consideration," Stewart—who also spent five months in prison on multiple felony charges—told the magazine. "But I knew this guy was not a terribly religious person. It’s exciting! Business is exciting. I want people to feel that way about business.”