Hybrid Working Changes

The Permanent Secretary has today sent out an email indicating that all staff members not already completing 60% of their working time in the workplace will be expected to do so from Spring 2024.

Here in the Home Office we have many members who already work from offices, ports, airports or other workplaces for greater than 60% due to the nature of their roles. It’s obvious that some roles require greater attendance, and our current policies allow that flexibility. However, they also allow the flexibility to work from home up to 60% now, meaning 40% in workplaces.

Following lockdown and the gradual return to the office, hybrid working has been demonstrated to be highly effective with significant benefits to both the organisation and individuals. Whilst that always needs to be balanced, PCS rejects the central diktat from the Cabinet Office that 60% should be the minimum in the workplace for everyone.

Our members have maintained high quality public services whilst also benefiting from working arrangements that are shown to be beneficial to mental health and work life balance.

Playing Politics

This announcement has come directly from the Cabinet Office and Ministerial pressure. Although it’s alleged that departments have delegated authority to make decisions, it’s clear every single one has now issued communications to staff following the same template.

Rather than reviewing the current approach and basing future policy on an evidence-based approach, the 60% figure has been plucked from the air. It’s no secret that various Ministers have been at the forefront of trying to get staff back to the office in greater numbers egged on by certain sections of the Press. This announcement is clearly designed to placate them.

It was only a few weeks ago that the Covid enquiry saw WhatsApp evidence of pressure around lockdown and the effect it would have on small businesses and newspaper sales. However, one wonders whether Civil Servants forced to spend greater amounts of their income on coming into work will actually have enough money to buy a paper or sandwich in the future anyway.

The Announcement

It’s important to state that these proposals will not affect anyone with different contractual arrangements or reasonable adjustments around office attendance. That’s clear in the announcement, and any pressure from local management should be reported to local representatives.

Furthermore, the implementation date is Spring 2024, so nobody should be forced to increase their office attendance because of this announcement. It is recommended that initial discussions commence, but with a view to Spring 2024 implementation.

PCS have only had one informal meeting about these proposals and there will inevitably be more about specific arrangements. These will not least centre on the ability of the Home Office estate to cope with 60% attendance. There are already restrictions on new posts in Croydon due to space and buildings such as the Capital and Vulcan House have seen huge expansions of staffing. Hybrid working has saved the department considerable money on rent.

Conclusion

PCS does not believe that upping minimum office attendance from 40% to 60% has been justified. We do not believe that this recognises the changed world we live in and the modern operation of future workplaces. The proposals do not weigh adequately the benefits that members gain from hybrid working and what will be lost to individuals. But they also fail to take consideration of what will be lost with a demoralised workforce, with many members reporting higher productivity levels working from home.

We will be engaging with the Home Office about how this will be implemented locally here, but our national representatives are also in consultation with the Cabinet Office about the central steer that is being imposed. We’ll continue to seek to persuade the Home Office and Arm’s Length Bodies that genuine, properly managed hybrid-working continues to offer the best possible approach for the department to take.

James Cox (Group President), Pete Wright (Group Vice President), Mike Jones (Group Secretary)