Civil Service?

[Snaggysnoo]

Has anybody who works for the civil service heard when they’re going back? My friend is on maternity leave, due back to work in a month and wondering if she’ll need to be back in office full time.

I’m civil service, no signs of going back anytime soon.

I work for local government.

There are currently no plans to return to office and expect if/when we do it will be minimal in order to reduce office space required and save money

We've already changed our flexible working policy so we can WFH barring 2 days a month. But I believe we are gradually opening up with each roadmap step, we will only be able to fully open when they confirm an end to 2m social distancing so can't know for sure at this stage, June minimum.

@Baconking

I work for local government.

There are currently no plans to return to office and expect if/when we do it will be minimal in order to reduce office space required and save money

The difference is that at some point the pm will actively encourage people back to the office (we saw that on the briefing tonight) and at that point the pressure will be on civil servants to fall in line

Our new pay deal gave us the option to WFH 2 days a week (for most people). We’ve been good everyone will have a 1-2-1 with their manager before returning and will be given at least 4 weeks notice

Given that we used to work on a 6 desks for 10 people basis pre Covid, it’ll be interesting to see how it works

I very much doubt there will be a service wide instruction. Cabinet Office might encourage a return for all civil servants but it will be for individual departments to manage it.

Just as a side note many civil servants have been working face to face throughout the pandemic. There are lots of roles that can't be done from home.

@StealthPolarBear yes true, especially with Rishi proclaiming people will want to return to the office I think the government will be under pressure from some businesses to not make WFH as normalised as some are expecting. I'm applying for the next grade up on civil service jobs atm, I was very confident I could apply for offices further away for one day in the office but feeling much less confident about that having spoken to a few people/organisations recently.

@LittleG69

Our new pay deal gave us the option to WFH 2 days a week (for most people). We’ve been good everyone will have a 1-2-1 with their manager before returning and will be given at least 4 weeks notice

Given that we used to work on a 6 desks for 10 people basis pre Covid, it’ll be interesting to see how it works

You are obviously the same department as me!

I've been ondering whether the entire civil service could just be hot desks? Why can't I go and work at another department? If so there would be one nearish most people I imagine.

@StealthPolarBear I think that is what they're trying to achieve with the regional hubs they're creating. Thing is if your team isn't based at the hub, what's the difference between being sat at a desk in a hub vs a desk at home, you're remote from your colleagues either way? (I'm thinking more from the employer's point of view if they insist on office working, it's obviously a benefit for those who'd like to office work nearer to home).

Ooh regional hubs, this is the first I'm hearing? I suspect ours will be in Leeds anyway.
I agree, but it does allow local colleagues to meet at least. We're a bit of an oddity in the civil service, and my team are based across three locations with London being a fourth we need to be in regularly

But agree the whole idea of getting people out and on the trains into city centres isn't going to work as much with my idea (though I'll happily buy a coffee at Leeds)

Our department is implementing only 1 - 2 days in.

Yes so in my city we have around 4 separate organisations in separate buildings, we are all moving to one building but it'll be hot desking due to size. As part of planning for this project and in the CSLive conference last year I've heard they're thinking of introducing more regional hubs that enable people to work from them regardless of department, but lots of discussions around booking desks and internet connectivity etc so still relatively early days I think.

I think it's very different depending on role and location. We're already back 2 days a week and have been told we will (only) have 2 weeks notice when that changes. Over Christmas we were told we were going back 4 days in Jan, but thankfully that was reviewed with the new lock down.

I'd suggest she talks to her colleagues as they'll have more idea what's relevant to her.

(By separate I mean completely separate departments, mostly Defra and Home Office)

I’m in a very large ALB at the moment and no signs of going back yet. Senior leadership still saying they’re working through options. Apparently in the recent survey they did 10% of staff want to continue WFH permanently, 10% would like to be entirely office based, and everyone else would like a mix. There was already quite a bit of WFH pre Covid, but I think it looks like we’ll be allowed to do more if we want.

@andweallsingalong - how come you are all back 2 days a week? The national rule is still “work from home if you can” and I assume you’re not in an organisation where all the roles have to be office based, if everyone is back 2 days in your org, suggesting you all were previously at home?

@Wigeon

I’m in a very large ALB at the moment and no signs of going back yet. Senior leadership still saying they’re working through options. Apparently in the recent survey they did 10% of staff want to continue WFH permanently, 10% would like to be entirely office based, and everyone else would like a mix. There was already quite a bit of WFH pre Covid, but I think it looks like we’ll be allowed to do more if we want.

I wonder if we are in the same ALB, Wigeon!

@Motnight - were you on the all staff briefing last Weds where the chief people officer gave those stats about people’s WFH preference?!

@iamme21 I think we must be!

iamme21
LittleG69
Our new pay deal gave us the option to WFH 2 days a week (for most people). We’ve been good everyone will have a 1-2-1 with their manager before returning and will be given at least 4 weeks notice

Given that we used to work on a 6 desks for 10 people basis pre Covid, it’ll be interesting to see how it works

You are obviously the same department as me!

Me too! I recognise this. Shall we gave a secret signal?

I think PM is encouraging Whitehall staff back in, but for the rest of the civil service its anyone's guess.
My guess is for the large regional offices, it will be a while. In my location there are 6,000 people, so it'll be a nightmare for social distancing etc. That'll give you a clue where I work

I think PM is encouraging Whitehall staff back in, but for the rest of the civil service its anyone's guess.

In my "research" whilst applying for jobs this does feel like it's ringing true, with London based offices expecting more office time than the regional ones I am looking at. I have an interview for a Whitehall position next week, feeling really mixed about it because if I get it I will be devastated to have to turn down but my superior said you don't know unless you try...so I'm trying!

Why will you have to tuen it down?

In my experience their messaging toes the line. Last September I think there was a push to get back in the office from the pm and we were expecting to, but rates rose again and the 'back to the office' message was dropped.