Working from home abroad in civil service

[WaryFox]

Hi.

I'm got a new job work through an agency in the civil service. In which most of the time im working from home. Can i go abroad lets say for 1 week whilst working from home on the laptop?

Think there are restrictions on taking equipment abroad and using the vpn.

I think in theory yes but it depends on the organisation if its actually "allowed" probably not

In theory yes. In practice it has to be approved by senior management (at least where I am) and I've only ever known people to be given permission if they are going abroad for a longer period e.g. to visit family for a month and want to work a bit while they are there.

I work for an arm's length government body and we've recently been told this is no longer allowed. Really messed up some people's holiday plans!

There are tax implications so generally no. We (arms length body but same CS rules) are doing a pilot letting people work from their home countries if they aren’t British. I’m not sure how that works. I don’t think it extends to British people working overseas though.

You need to ask permission if your contract doesn't specify, many workplaces say no due to being under a different legal jurisdiction, impact on insurance etc. Those that do allow it usually want to know where you are when.

Edited to add: tax implications also a factor.

We’re allowed to but it needs to be set up with IT.

We're not allowed to use our laptops or log into the VPN abroad in my department. We're even supposed to complete a sort of 'risk assessment' if we go on holiday without laptops as some countries are considered high risk to visit (although that may be specific to the office I work for)!

We're also allowed to for a limited number of weeks per year.

In my Department you have to have the authorisation of the line manager and our security team. We are explicitly told it’s only allowed for business or exceptional family circumstances. So in my Department it would be a no. Given the palaver I went through for a recent work trip to Brussels, I’m not sure my laptop would work overseas unless I told IT either.

This is the position in our Dept as well and the only person I know who has had it approved, was to visit a seriously ill family member overseas.

In my Department it's not allowed.

Oh and to add to my previous post, they will know if you try and log in from abroad.

You need to check your department's policy. Some organisations let you do this and others don't

My work allows you to work overseas for up to 2 weeks a year, but it has to be pre-declared and approved. People thinking they could just F off to other countries and work from there during COVID was an enormous tax and legal headache and most companies now have very clear policies around it.

Not allowed where I work. There are tax implications and while you're working in a foreign country you're subject to their employment laws too.

You also need to consider if you’re actually allowed to work in the country you are visiting. For example, you aren’t normally allowed to work on a tourist visa

Not allowed in my department. We are allowed to work from a UK embassy or consulate though. Or an approved site with UK presence. Which department are you in?

Its a big NO in the department I work in

I work for the civil service and any taking laptop/phone abroad has to be approved by security. Definitely not allowed just because we want to work abroad for a week.

DH is SE but works on government contracts, he isn't allowed to work from outside the UK. He could probably make it look like he is in The UK but its not worth the risk.
I do freelance work for a large PS body and it didn't occur to me I couldn't work from abroad but when I tried to I was blocked. Luckily DH did something techy that meant I was using my home internet but if I had been caught it wouldn't hav emattered if I lost the contract
You need to ask OP just in case it isn't allowed

Absolutely not in my agency. Our laptops cannot leave the country without direct Secretary authorisation and special protections added.

I doubt many CS departments will permit this. Especially using a dodgy spoofing VPN.

At mine it's treated as gross misconduct unless you have special permission.

Husband is civil servant - he says absolutely not without special permission and they will know if you do.

At my place you need authority, something to do with IT and security