Civil service - will you strike?

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My department has been informed today that we must now return to the office at least 4 days a week. I only joined CS 6 months ago after applying for a role that was advertised as 60/40 hybrid (2 days in the office per week). The pay is nowhere near what I’d get in private sector but I didn’t join for that, I joined purely for the flexible benefits. We’ve already been told we’ll get a maximum of a 2% pay rise this year after years of freezes, I was willing to go along with that but I draw the line here.
I can’t afford at this moment in time to be doubling the amount I pay for parking and the amount I pay for commuting. In addition, I just don’t want my work/life balance to go back to how it was before, I was run into the ground working full time from an office, raising 2 young kids (one with SEND) and running a home. Yes, I have a partner that does 50% but he works full time too. With hybrid working I could drop off my children and pick them up 2 days a week. That will be gone now. On top of the increased commuting costs, I’ll also have to find money for childcare an extra 2 days a week. I think there’s an element of discrimination against women because, let’s be honest here, we’re the ones who will be leaving in droves because we can’t reconcile the benefits any longer.
I know there are people who don’t have the benefit of hybrid working, but that’s a choice. I chose hybrid and now it’s completely out of my control even though I have followed to the letter what was asked of us.
If you work for CS and the union ask you to strike, will you?

Blimey - can I ask what department you’re in? The whole thing is so political at the moment and the ‘lazy WFH civil servant’ trope is too easy to score points with

@Hiphopopotamus I’m in DfE. I’d imagine that all departments will be getting the memo this week if they haven’t already as the message came from Nadhim Zahawi and apparently all ministers have been directed to do the same.

I have missed this.

All departments or Specific ones?

Well if it’s just my department there will be even more outrage I’d imagine! I assumed all civil servants would have been given the message today but it seems not! The way the minister talked about it he indicated it would be all civil servants.

We haven't been told 4 days yet - they are still moaning about the 2 days. Why they aren't working out which (especially London) buildings can be sold for conversion to flats is beyond me.

I was employed just before the pandemic began and was always on a FT WFH basis, with monthly trips to a central office 4hrs drive away. Hell will freeze over before I am in an office 2-4 days a week.

Fortunately my entire team are the same, including my boss and his boss, so I think we'll be allowed to crack on.

It's such a ridiculous scenario with so many CS departments able to demonstrate improved outputs, huge savings to the government in closing buildings and selling them off, and a reliance on a hybrid method.

This is pure Tory cronyism to benefit thing likes of Pret, Starbucks and so on who are unable to convince commuters they need daily coffees and lunches.

@ThelmaAndLouise2020 its so disheartening when you’re one of those following the rules isn’t it. I’m fuming at the ones who have left us in this state.
I really hope we can negotiate, haven’t had any direction from management as of yet but I imagine they’re waiting for the guidance to be released.

Weve been told its 50% office /home . Raised costs the same as yours op in the main and with a paltry % raise. We worked non stop all during covid with a huge increase in applications and had precious little in the way of concrete appreciation - not even an easter egg from management this year. I know our office has been talking about this today. I will be voting yes.

@SilverHairedCat the ridiculous thing is, I always bring lunch from home as I can’t afford to be going out even 2 days a week! It’s laughable that they think it’s only working 2 days a week in the office that’s causing this and not the huge hike in cost of living for everyone!

What does your contract say? If it says office based you have no choice other than to hand your notice in.

NHS England have two offices in London, but they are going down to one. Why can't the civil service offload some office space too? Loss of companies are doing it that way.

My employer have announced changes. I've said I can't meet the new requirement and will leave if they won't flex

It's completely unworkable. My different (entirely London based) department significantly increased headcount during the pandemic and yet even before the pandemic, our desk space was at 7:10. So it is physically impossible for everyone to work 4 days a week in the office, unless they can magic up new space for us - something we were requesting for years before the pandemic and we were not permitted.

@orangeisthenewpuce I’ll probably end up putting in a request for part time if there’s no flexibility until I can find another job, women at a distinct disadvantage yet again.
My contract lists the place of work as the office unfortunately, it’s a standard CS contract. I completely understand that legally I don’t have a leg to stand on, but as the job was advertised as hybrid (and they’re STILL advertising jobs as this now!) I wasn’t expecting it to change so drastically.

It's completely unworkable. My different (entirely London based) department significantly increased headcount during the pandemic and yet even before the pandemic, our desk space was at 7:10. So it is physically impossible for everyone to work 4 days a week in the office, unless they can magic up new space for us - something we were requesting for years before the pandemic and we were not permitted.

What happens if everyone refuses? Could they discipline or fire everyone?

@skix that’s what should happen but in reality the majority will likely grumble and get on with it. That’s why I’d like the union to organise a strike as at least that way there would be some kind of collective action that is supported.

Can I ask what you have to pay more for childcare? Surely you still needed childcare when working from home?

Same here, absolutely disheartened and don't know what to do. I'll be gutted if I have to go part time because of this when my performance has been fantastic working from home. Narrow minded and so really hope something is done

Depends how old the kids are @Mellowyellow222. We no longer have paid childcare for my youngest (8 nearly 9). School is 500m away. Takes approximately 10 mins to do school run each day. He can happily stay at home from 3.30 - 5/6 whilst we work, but not quite old enough to walk home by himself.

I imagine lots of people are in the same boat with kids 6-10. Old enough to entertain themselves with adults in the house, but not without. We'd be well pissed off to go back to paying £30 a day for wraparound care for 10 mins....

@Mellowyellow222 no, because I only work until 2:45 on those days (I start early and finish late on the other days) Wfh I can then go and pick the children up and do something nice with them. Working from the office until 2:45 I won’t get home until 3:30, wouldn’t get to school until 3:45. School finishes at 3… therefore, childcare needed. All childcare around here is set price until 6pm, no lower costs for picking up earlier.

We're in similar position to PPs - pre covid our offices had barely enough room for 60% of staff to be in, and they have subsequently got rid of half the space while staff numbers have stayed about the same. I wish them luck trying to get more than 30‰ of staff into the office at once, we won't all fit any more!

Thanks. That makes sense.

DWP are still on two days in office. Wfh rest of time. They can’t fit them all in.

Our departments office space has been reduced so 4 days a week for everyone won't work. I'm annoyed at the people refusing to come in and potentially ruining this for everyone else, but at the end of the day childcare costs etc were all there before covid so not really a valid reason to stike.

If you want proper hybrid then potentially find another job, but things were always going to change as the restrictions ended

Depends on your role within DWP as to whether you’re hybrid and on 40% in the office. Some are 100% in the office.