Civil Service - Post Lockdown - Blended Working?

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122436385#Comment_122436385

But it hasn't already started. Unless you're using the example of Departments going from full time working from home during Covid to the current situation. As I said, one Department is four days a week. That's all. Every other Department is either three or two and I know some Departments who were three days in the office went to two, and I'm sure the vice-a-versa has happened but to suggest all Departments have shifted to more days in the office is incorrect.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122436561#Comment_122436561

I am just weary of listening to the same old, same old, arguments over and over again

I will say it seems to be predominantely those who are either currently in the private sector or those who have come to the CS from it, that have this idea that what happens in the private sector heavily influences what happens (or will happen) in the Civil Service. It doesn't.

Not to mention, WFH actually existed in the CS long before the pandemic happened. I was working two days a week from home even before then.

ledwithhedwith

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122436565#Comment_122436565

And to suggest I suggested that is equally incorrect. It looks to me like you’ll never have a decent level of certainty over it in the CS. I did say anecdotally I had only heard of areas decreasing wfh, not increasing. A survey will make that easier to see.

ledwithhedwith

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122436603#Comment_122436603

To suggest the CS only exists in its own vacuum is rather naive.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122436565#Comment_122436565

We don't know what Department is allegedly now four days a week, and / or if that applies to all staff across the board or just within certain areas of it.

I myself mentioned earlier, that Intreo offices (part of DSP) have limited WFH available by roster for public facing staff, but it does not apply across the board to everyone else in the whole department.

Hopefully we will find out. I'm going to ask around my colleagues to see if they've heard anything about it.

But I can tell you, there is no push to increase WFO in my department. Quite the opposite. WFH is highly encouraged and every support for it is given.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122436625#Comment_122436625

Nobody suggested the CS exists in a vaccum. But I will repeat my earlier points for your benefit.

The private sector and the public sector (and within the public sector, the CS) are very different animals.

You seem to think the private sector has a much greater influence on the civil service, than it actually does.

Anthony A

It's definitely used as a tool to get people to leave in the private sector and unfortunately they can and will change it on a whim and upend people's life's while demanding compliance. I would hope CS aren't the same but don't know.

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122435272#Comment_122435272

The same thing will happen in the civil service, is the point.

ledwithhedwith

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122438612#Comment_122438612

yes that’s the point, if wfh becomes unusual the civil service won’t be on its own letting people wfh 3 and 4 days a week. It’s not to radical of a statement I’d have thought , but seems to be met with some severe incredulity on here. I guess we weren’t all at the meetings. To suggest we don’t care what the private sector does is bonkers.

Ezeoul

@TaurenDruid

Another interesting question might be:

• Have you moved location / bought a home on a presumption that WFH would continue to be available to you?

Thinking of the bigger picture (as some of us do) one of the good things that came out of the pandemic was WFH. It opened up options to CS all over the country to live and work from where they choose, and not just having all commuting and crowding into offices in main centres and competing to rent / buy homes there.

I personally know more than a few who bought in their home counties, including one person whose HQ was in Dublin but they bought a house in Cork (though subsequently resigned when not allowed to continue WFH 5 days a week when we returned to offices) and another who commutes from their new house in Sligo to Dublin once a week. Off the top of my head, I can think of other staff who commute in from Limerick, Wexford, Cavan and Galway.

If WFH was suddenly withdrawn, and everyone who is commuting in was ordered back to spending four days a week in the office, it would cause CHAOS.

(As an aside, should we maybe put ideas for questions on the Survey thread?!?)

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122439202#Comment_122439202

But it is actually a fairly radicial statement. It would be like suggesting Civil Service Departments will put a halt to flexi time becusse that isnt widely available in the private sector. Career breaks, flexi, shorter working year, split working patterns, exam leave, study leave etc are all available in the civil service while not being as widely availablein the private sector. Working for home will be the exact same. In future, it is likely a four day worning week will he common in tje civil service before it is in the private sector. Traditionally, the civil/public service has always been the trend setter forpositive work/life balance initiatives that are then introduced in the privete sector.

ledwithhedwith

WFH and 4 day working week was in the private sector before the civil service so not sure what your on about. Anyway I hope I’m wrong and wfh is here to stay.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122440074#Comment_122440074

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122440074#Comment_122440074

Indeed.

And as with most of these things you mention, you'll find it was the Public Sector who did it first, and then was followed by (some) of the Private Sector - not the other way around.

And WFH has been available in the Civil Service since 2003. They called it "e-working" when I applied for it. :)

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122440135#Comment_122440135

They certainly weren't for the majority in the private sector.

curiosity

Not sure what the situation is in other departments, but here in CSO we're still in pilot phase, with year two ending on October 31st. Remaining at two days per week on site for next few months.