Unsafe back-to-work plans undermined

New guidance will be issued to civil servants following the government’s about-turn in its attempt to cajole them back to offices.

Last month, PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka wrote to the chief operating officer for the civil service, Alex Chisholm, strongly urging him to reconsider a requirement for departments to bring back 80% of staff to their workplace once a week by the end of September.

The government had claimed that sending tens of thousands of civil servants back to their buildings by the end of the month would be “hugely beneficial”. However, there was a sharp rise in UK coronavirus cases in early September, forcing the government to eventually back track (see page 5).

“No responsible employer would try and force large numbers of staff back to the workplace in these circumstances,” Serwotka had warned. Deputy general secretary of the Prospect civil service union Garry Graham criticised the setting of arbitrary timescales and targets. He called for a managed and graduated approach to continue.

He added: “To maintain social distancing and ensure workplaces comply with COVID Secure risk assessments, the reality is that working patterns will continue to be a blend of home and office working.”

Both the TUC and the Scottish TUC (STUC) condemned a planned government advertising campaign telling people that they could lose their jobs if they continue homeworking instead of returning to the office.

https://www.pcs.org.uk/news/pcs-meets-cabinet-office-to-discuss-michael-goves-u-turn-on-homeworking

https://www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article/civil-service-returntowork-target-was-never-based-in-reality-says-union-chief