Coronavirus: Public officials ‘must return to offices quickly’

The government has urged Whitehall bosses to “act quickly” to bring more staff back to office.

In a letter seen by the BBC, he says he is “strongly encouraging” attendance through rotation systems, arguing that this would be “enormously beneficial.”

It follows criticism that very few officials working from home due to the coronavirus have returned to their desks, despite the easing of the shutdown.

But the unions have called the government’s attitude outdated.

They say that most officials should expect to continue working from home until the end of the year and that they fear an increased risk of contracting coronavirus when they return to their colleagues.

Analysis of mobile phone data last month suggested that only 17% of UK workers had returned to the office.

This was despite official encouragement for public and private sector employees in England to do so whenever possible.

The government says it wants 80% of civil servants to be able to attend their regular workplace at least once a week by the end of September.

And Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked officials for a weekly update on progress.

In the letter, sent to permanent secretaries, top officials, government departments, Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, and Alex Chisholm, Civil Service Operations Director, they say “getting more people back to work in a safe way for Covid to improve the public services we provide. “

They add: “We have seen a reduced level of social interaction among our colleagues, with the loss of some of the spontaneous interaction and cross-fertilization between teams that drives innovation and sustained common purpose.”

But they say staff safety “remains our top concern,” and that return to the workplace will be discussed with unions and staff groups.

The letter continues: “Departments that are still below their departmental limitations should now act quickly to try to bring more staff back to the office in a Covid-safe manner, and take advantage of the return to schools this month and the greater availability of public transport. “

The FDA union, which represents senior public officials, said this week that it estimated 30-40% could return to office by the end of the year.

Leader Dave Penman accused ministers of “sounding like Luddites” in an era when technology made working from home easier.

And Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said he was willing to consider the strike “as a last resort” if the health and safety of workers are “put at risk.”