Civil Service - Post Lockdown - Blended Working?

29-07-2024 12:48PM

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If WFH was suddenly withdrawn, and everyone who is commuting in was ordered back to spending four days a week in the office, it would cause CHAOS.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 · 29-07-2024 01:02PM

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 · 29-07-2024 01:15PM

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

29-07-2024 01:22PM

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 · 29-07-2024 01:40PM

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

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

curiosity · 29-07-2024 04:09PM

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.

coffeesiphon · 16-04-2025 05:08PM

Anyone know the WFH policy of the following Departments?

Defence
DFHERIS (Dept. Further Higher Education etc.)
OGCIO

Josey Wales · 17-04-2025 11:25AM

I would be interested to know what the blended working situation is in the Oireachtas. There was a couple of mobility advertisements today for it.

billyhead · 17-04-2025 07:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123365095#Comment_123365095

2 days in the office I think however depends on business needs.

Lynnington3 · 19-04-2025 11:20AM

my husband works in DFHERIS, it’s 2 days In office

BalboBiggins · 05-02-2026 10:33AM

Does anyone know how many days a week in office it is for Dublin city council employees?

sinorita · 05-02-2026 10:36AM

@coffeesiphon Defence are 2 days in the office

romekzadra · 30-03-2026 08:59PM

Stationary work has its pros and cons. Personally, I like working in the office because I feel more focused and motivated. I also enjoy the catering and the very tasty unlimited coffee. I recently read about this here and realized that I really have good wellness benefits, and my boss genuinely cares about us. But honestly, I wouldn’t say no to 5–7 days of working online from home so I wouldn’t have to sit in traffic, put on makeup, or wear uncomfortable formal clothes.

TaurenDruid · 31-03-2026 12:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124351849#Comment_124351849

Where are you working that requires "formal clothes"? Smart casual is the norm pretty much everywhere, with the exception of senior management, and even then…

That said, I'm aware of some departments where staff unilaterally decided to adopt a uniform, but even then, it's not mandatory.

Hotblack Desiato · 31-03-2026 02:02PM

In the robot factory.

No catering and very tasty unlimited coffee in the civil service, anyway

Dodge · 31-03-2026 03:13PM

What a weird spam post.

Civil Service - Post Lockdown - Blended Working?

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