Boris Johnson’s former right-hand man, Lord “Eddie” Udny-Lister, is concerned about the impact of civil servants working from home on the quality of service provided by Government departments. He believes that remote working may be hindering people’s ability to get answers from key departments.
Recent figures show that HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions have low occupancy rates in their headquarters, with civil servants spending a significant amount of time working remotely. Despite this, the Government has no plans to change the guidance that allows civil servants to be in the office for just 60 percent of the week.
Lord Udny-Lister emphasizes the importance of teams spending time in the office with their managers, stating that it is crucial for improving productivity and morale. Professor Len Shackleton of the Institute of Economic Affairs also questions the productivity benefits of working from home for civil servants.
A Government spokesperson reiterated the focus on delivering change and improving public services, with no plans to change office attendance requirements. An HMRC source highlighted the benefits of offering hybrid working as a modern and flexible employer.
While some departments have high headquarters occupancy rates, concerns remain about the impact of remote working on productivity and service quality.