In a recent directive, the Cabinet Office reinforced a policy requiring civil servants to spend at least 60% of their working hours in Government buildings or attending business-related meetings. Department heads have been urged to enforce this rule, and senior managers are expected to be present even more frequently.

This adjustment to flexible working arrangements includes departments such as HMRC, which has countered claims that remote working affected its service quality, affirming that “standards are maintained whether staff work remotely or in-office.”

Since April 2024, HMRC employees have been required to adhere to the 60% in-office rule, with hybrid working remaining integral to its strategy for attracting talent as a modern employer. Civil service occupancy data will be published quarterly rather than weekly to provide a broader overview of in-office attendance.

However, the changes have met resistance. In recent weeks, staff from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and PCS Union members escalated action after being instructed to spend 40% of their time in the office. This included refusal to work overtime and non-compliance with in-office attendance requirements.

The policy shift has also drawn questions as it coincides with Government debates on the new Employment Rights Bill, which aims to expand workers’ rights, including a default right to request flexible working.

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