Working for OGDs

COVID-19: Working for other government departments (OGDs)

Members asked to complete work for the DWP and return to work issues

Background

Members in the Home Office complete some of the most vital work across government. We have members coming in to work to complete vital tasks in relation to the border, enforcement and national security. We also have huge numbers of members working from home, undertaking their usual work whilst isolating.

The current Covid-19 pandemic demands that as much of the population remain at home as possible. This isn’t just for our individual safety but also to slow and hopefully stop the spread of the virus. This is why PCS union has been engaging with the department in order to ensure that it is only critical workers that are expected to come in to the office.

Two new developments have altered this situation. The deployment of our Home Office members to work for other government departments and also the instruction for some of our members to return to work. Specifically, some of our members in Glasgow HMPO are being instructed to train on DWP work, and a number of HMPO offices are looking to move to 25% staffing by next week.

Working for OGDs

PCS has long put forward the argument that as Crown Civil Servants we share a single employer and that we should be looking to reinstate single national pay bargaining and aligned terms and conditions. The move to flexibly deploy us across departments at this emergency time demonstrates the logic of our long-standing position.

Of course, this deployment raises numerous questions around training, health safety and welfare of our members. We regret to report that the deployment of members in Glasgow was conceived and launched without consultation with PCS. This is unacceptable in the current situation. Members are uncertain and are looking for guarantees around their welfare if they are to return.

Demands

Depending on the length of the lockdown process there is the real possibility that the Glasgow HMPO members are just the first. There are critical services being delivered by our colleagues in other departments which potentially need our assistance.

As a result of this we have written to the second Permanent Secretary noting the lack of consultation and making a number of demands that our members are seeking:

• The Home Office needs to fully engage with PCS. Nothing should be issued to staff or tasked without PCS agreement. Agreement needs to be reached over the type of work, who will be expected to perform this and what technology, training and support is being provided first.
• Work for OGD’s to be strictly voluntary. With the ability to withdraw from work at any point if dissatisfied or if safeguards are not put in place.
• No one will suffer detriment for refusing to undertake OGD work
• Work to be performed only from home – there should be no requirement to perform work from an office that heightens the risk of spreading or contracting the virus
• Relevant IT and equipment to be supplied to perform work from home
• Appropriate training and support to be provided
• No performance or target requirements to be set against individuals
• Work to be assigned appropriate to grade

Return to Work

Whilst the call to perform critical work in support of our colleagues in other government departments is understandable, PCS have become made aware that HMPO are seeking to move to a situation where 25% of staff are in work. This is a move away from just completion of compassionate and emergency passport work for essential workers to having staff in doing business as usual applications.

As we noted above, the self-isolation process and staying at home is a huge plank in this country’s response to the pandemic. Rates of infection continue to increase, and number of deaths are rising every day. In fact, fellow members of PCS have already tragically died, including in the Home Office. Any decision to go against medical advice and return members to work should not then be taken lightly.

PCS has written to the Director General of HMPO raising our concerns that members are being brought back to complete work we do not believe is critical. No new risk assessments or safer systems of work have been provided to our union. We do not know how many staff will be back in the office, where they will be sitting, what PPE will be provided and whether social distancing will be possible.

Conclusion

The country is in the grips of a devastating pandemic. Many of us will know people who have suffered the effects of infection and even have lost friends and loved ones. Getting health and safety right at this time is crucial and it should be in collaboration with your trade union representatives.

First and foremost, we repeat the guidance that anyone in an at-risk group should not be coming into work at all. We have reports of some members feeling under pressure from managers to return and this should not be the case. PCS are setting out demands in relation to completing work for other government departments. We hope to agree a process that would ensure that your reps are satisfied that all the possible protections are in place before anyone is asked to do this work.

In relation to our members already in work and those being asked to return, we have published guidance in relation to self-distancing and we continue to challenge the department about work we either think is non-critical or could be completed from home.

At this very difficult time PCS union is working hard to protect members, but our union is only as strong as our members, and we always need more to step forward to assist. If you are interested in getting more involved, or you want to talk about the contents of this briefing please contact your local rep or the authors of this briefing.

James Cox (Group President), Martin Andrews (Group Assistant Secretary)

Any queries about this PCS Home Office Group Members' Briefing can be sent to the authors here.