Civil Service commits to 60% attendance in office

Following reports that Ministers did not enforce the hybrid working rules, department heads across the Civil Service have committed to a three-day-per-week attendance in office.

Cabinet Office has confirmed that the guidance regarding office attendance will continue to be in effect. Most civil servants are expected to spend 60% or more of their time on government business. Senior managers are expected to spend more than 60% of their time in the office.

The guidance for civil servants on office attendance will “not change”. Reports last month suggested that the new Labour Government was not enforce the mandate.

Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, noted that more flexible work had “real economic benefits”. He told The Times promoting flexible work would boost productivity, spread economic expansion across the country, and increase loyalty among employees.

The Cabinet Office, then under the Conservatives in November last year, sent a letter to senior civil servants telling them that they must “set and implement a expectation of increased office-based work” in order to reap the “significant” benefits of working face-to-face with colleagues, such as “collaboration and innovation” and “fostering a community”.

Senior managers were instructed to show “strong, visible leadership” and spend over 60% of their work hours at the office. This is equivalent to spending three days a week in the office for a full time employee.

Today, the Departmental Headquarters published average monthly occupancy data between July and Septembre. Additional quarterly data will be released.

This was said to be a cost-effective method of tracking office space at departmental headquarters, which balances the need for transparence while reducing the workload on departments.

In all departments, the average attendance in office was above 70%. The figures ranged from 57% in the Ministry of Justice up to 91% in the Cabinet Office.

The heads of government departments have all agreed that the Civil Service can best serve the people by adopting a consistent approach in the office.

Cabinet Office stated that this approach would allow departments and teams to maximize the benefits of hybrid work while “getting more out of being together”. The Civil Service leaders believe that working face-to-face with each other is a great way to achieve government commitments.

Leaders across departments have pledged to listen to their staff and adapt to their needs, where necessary. They also want to make sure that the business continues to be met.

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