Does anyone work for the civil service (in London) and wfh full-time?

[pickledwillies]

Just that really. Wondering whether you work for a central department and are able to wfh full-time, as a reasonable adjustment.

I'm outside London and am WFH full time. Nominally I'm supposed to go into a premises, but I don't and no one asks as I have a chronic illness and I'm currently left alone on that front.

It entirely depends on your role and whether it can be done from home FT.

I do travel once a month for 2 overnights at a set location for the team meeting. I also have to go into some places on an ad hoc basis because I cannot do those tasks any other way, but it depends on the piece of work I have at that time as to whether it is needed at all. Have to be vague, hope it makes sense!

Is it a reasonable request for the role you have or are applying for?

@NCForQuestions Thank you! I also have a pretty debilitating chronic illness, and have really struggled to convey why I can't travel into the office (no, not even just once a week....) but am still able to do my job effectively from home.

My current employer has begrudgingly allowed it (after a lot of issues) but just a bit sad that it seems like it'll be difficult to go for promotion (not a Grade 7 yet) or apply for different roles if it's not something teams/departments tend to easily grant.

Well if you wanted a Cabinet Office role you'll have to be able to go into the office, but if you look at the MHRA, they are actively recruiting permanent WFH roles... So it'll depend what you want to do as to whether they see it as a reasonable adjustment.

You may be able to interview via Teams, but they will likely want to meet you in person at some point, so you need to consider whether that's practicable or not.

Oooh I isn't know they had wfh roles as I thought they wanted people in person. This would make more roles that I could apply for so I would be very interested.

I’ve been looking on the Civil Service jobs website and there are a few remote only roles on there.

I'm a G6 in Cabinet Office (London) and WFH as a reasonable adjustment. No reason why you shouldn't be able to get promoted? Have they formally accepted your flexible working request? I assume it'll need reviewing and approving with each job move but the onus will be on them from April to explain why they can't meet your adjustment.

@cocsbygum Oooh, this is good to know! I've had so many issues over the past 3 years, when I got long COVID. I was a high-performing SEO prior that, and was on track for G7, but chronic illness somewhat wrecked these plans. Even when I recovered enough to put my mind to things like promotion etc, the confidence factor has played a pretty big role in preventing me from asking for full-time homeworking as a reasonable adjustment for disability, as opposed to a flexible working request for other reasons.

But your post makes me hopeful! Thank you.

I am DWP SCS - I have both contracted home workers (for disability reasons) and WFH as a reasonable adjustment in my division.

So yes entirely possible - interview - get role - ask for OH referral

Are your current reasonable adjustments formalised in a Workplace Adjustment Passport? If not, it might be worth investigating this with your HR team as then it can just be passed to a new HR department if you move and make things much easier to sort out.

@MrsDandelion Thanks so much! I've been slightly paranoid that in policy roles in central departments, it'll be unlikely to be able to get a dept to agree to this, but hopefully going forward there's a way.

I should probably check/inform them of this before I apply?

@AnotherNC22 Excellent point - will look into this. Thanks!

Yes I'm in Policy so there is a way. Will have to show need but definite precedent

Not true. Mhra’s job now are all either located in office or hybrid.

G7 with disability here, but not in London. Definitely write up a Workplace Adjustment Passport, and have an Occupational Health assessment. If you struggle with your illness they can suggest WFH as an adjustment. Even with the 60% Office attendance requirements, they can't say no to WFH if its recommended by the OH.

Personally, WFH works for me as even if I'm having a pain flare up, I can still log in and work, whereas if I was office based, I'd be calling in sick!

Unfortunately, there's an influx of people going down the same route who might not have a health problem or disability, but are using the system to get agreement to WFH (due to mandated office attendance coming in, post-COVID) so make sure you utilise the Adjustment Passport well to describe your health issues in -depth so they know you're not 'trying it on'! The Reddit Civil Service sub is also really great for advice.

Do you have that arrangement in your current role?

If not, then it is likely to be much harder to get - as the assumption will be that you’re able to do your current role. It’s an awkward middle ground at the moment, the push for making reasonable adjustments more straightforward combined with the drive for increased attendance.

It’s pretty unlikely in most organisations that you’d get it as a standard flexible working request given the overarching policy. However reasonable adjustment for disability falls out with that - but usually needs an occupational health assessment. One thing to be wary of there is that ‘only attending in person for the stuff that you feel it’s really beneficial to’ doesn’t tend to fit the bill.

My partner is a G6. He was employed as WFH (no disability) but travels to London around twice a month (we are not local). He recommends an OH referral. He has people with long Covid who come into the office now and again for things but don’t habitually attend.

I've been looking at cs jobs and many work from home roles are advertising the job is located in London or another big city. Realistically does this mean mainly working from home but having to travel into one of the cities a few times a month. I'm hampshire based so not close to any of the places they advertise.

@Hairymcclarytoes you need to apply for a role that is commutable to you, unless stated otherwise, the CS wide mandate is 60% in office attendance.

In my central Govt department, it is certainly possible to WFH as a reasonable adjustment. Not sure how straight forward it is to set it up, and my experience is that how flexible teams/departments are is highly variable in relation to the 60% office working mandate. I think UKHSA often (or at least they used to) advertise remote working positions, so might be another one to look at.

Based on our recent communications on the topic though, I would expect a WFH position would not get the London Weighting - as it is irrelevant if your workplace is in London if you aren't actually attending. Linked to this - is there a reason you specified in London? There are central government departments with other locations.

I would expect a WFH position would not get the London Weighting - as it is irrelevant if your workplace is in London if you aren't actually attending. Linked to this - is there a reason you specified in London? There are central government departments with other locations.

Not true actually, even full home working contracts can have London weighting, even though home is the official address you have to give yourself a main office, unlike flexibility cases you get expenses paid etc, but yes you still get London weighting if your main office is London.

Well that's true of my department anyway, I looked into it with HR, I suspect it might be something that is changed eventually, but as it stands, totally possible to WFH and get London weighting.

Interesting - thanks. It doesn't apply to me, as I'm not in London, but I've just checked our policy. It is quite vague but basically implies that not meeting the 60% office requirement may impact your location allowance.

@Imicola it may be different per department, and I absolutely expect this to be reviewed across the board because I think it's a quirk from pre pandemic times that perhaps now is out of date with volume of staff it impacts. I thought exactly as you did until I needed to look into it.

Ha. I commute 40% to London from Glasgow. Hampshire should be a doddle!

Why would you want to do that?

It’s a requirement of the job and I don’t want to live in London.