U-turn on home working welcomed

The PCS civil service union says it has been vindicated after the government announced a u-turn on homeworking as part of the latest coronavirus restrictions.

Up to 80% of civil servants had been told to return to work by the end of September as part of a push to get more people back in the office.

But these plans are now in disarray after prime minister Boris Johnson announced last month that office workers are now being asked to work from home.

The union has argued throughout that if members can do their job from home this was the safest way to work during the pandemic, although many members have continued to go out to work where necessary.

New guidance is expected to be issued to civil servants taking account of the changed situation. 

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our union, which was vilified in certain sections of the media for standing up for the safety of civil servants, has been vindicated by this government u-turn.

“We have been telling government for weeks that lessons from other countries meant forced return to workplaces in the civil service was reckless and wrong. 

“Following the latest official scientific advice pointing to a second spike of COVID-19 infections over winter, it is clear if people can work from home, they should do, until the government has got control of the virus.”

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