PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO CONFIRM THAT YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE IMPOSITION OF 60% OFFICE ATTENDANCE WITHIN DLUHC.

Civil servants have been told that in future they must spend 60% of time in offices. According to the CSW article, Ministers have directed senior officials to “set and implement an expectation of increased office-based working” among their staff.

Many DLUHC employees will rightly see this for what it is - a demand that we spend more of our income and more of our hard-pressed time, while being paid less in real terms, merely to satisfy an unevidenced desire for office presenteeism.

Hard-working civil servants helped to keep this country moving during the Covid pandemic, some in the workplace and some adapting to working at home. Homeworking brings huge benefits by cutting down the amount of travelling time and expense incurred unnecessarily and reducing the nation's carbon footprint.

There is no evidence that increasing the amount of office working will lead to increases in productivity or better working. Indeed as we enter the flu and Covid peak season, packing more staff into the office is just a recipe for increased sick absence.

Local trade union representatives are robustly engaging with management and focusing in particular on the importance of protecting existing staff flexibility, as well as challenging any use of tone and language which promotes a culture of ‘presenteeism’.

We are also highlighting the:

• Devastating financial impact upon lower paid staff in particular.
• Potential for detriment on disabled staff and those with caring responsibilities.
• Obvious practical constraints presented by the current lack of sufficient office space.
• Need to comply with public health guidance recommending that those with infectious illnesses should not attend offices.

As DLUHC members of staff we therefore call on our Permanent Secretary and her Executive Team colleagues to maintain the current ‘two days a week on average’ attendance policy and recognise the benefits of flexible working to the work of our department and the wellbeing of its staff.

Please share this petition with as many colleagues as possible. If they’re not already members of PCS, encourage them to join at mypcs.pcs.org.uk/onlinejoiningform