Working From Home Megathread

Found out today, we won't be going back in my place til jan-march and then it will likely be 2 or 3 days a week.

There are some people going in on a trial basis Oct to Dec (they volunteered).

Happy with that tbh.

I have heard other departments are going back 4 days a week for all staff (including my old one where I know lots of people)...seemingly lots of staff requesting transfers/mobility already!

Ah cheers happy with that tbh, a day or two a week in office will be fine for me as things stand, team is scattered all around the place. The time saved on the commute is great. I think it will vary by department, I heard DPER 22nd October date alright but I thought I heard 4 days? Might have been 3 though.

I think it will be Q2 next year possibly before a lot of places in CS and PS have a real policy in place.

We are starting a hybrid model shortly. I'm not looking forward to returning to the office at all, but it'll be ok on a blended basis. I've spoken to my boss and he intends on everything being "back to normal" in the new year, i.e. all staff in the office full time, which is just insane to me. I've asked him if there'll be flexibility to continue hybrid working and he sort of implied he doesn't want to put the policy in place because not everyone is effective in WFH, even though he acknowledged I am.

I'm with this company over 5 years but I think I'll start looking for a new job if that's the case. Most of my work is not in any way collaborative, I don't think I could bear being full-time in the office having lived completely differently for the last 18 months. Is anyone else in the same position/feeling the same way?

Get a grip sweetheart. I am telling you there has been no checks in the jobs I have been, as is the case for a few others in here as well, so calm your overreactive jets there. I already told you I have worked abroad, and that my current employer gives us allocated funds to get an ergonomic home office set up. But go ahead, call the desk police if you think you are doing some good 🤣

Who exactly will enforce this anyway? If someone has an issue with a desk they can flag it to an employer (in an office or WFH), legal obligation or not, it is up to the employer and employee to sort that out before it gets out of control.

You are making it sound like a matter of life and death.

Public and civil servants will just have to wait until the right to request remote work legislation comes in. Then be prepared to play hardball and have no fear about involving the WRC. Personally I have no idea of the process and have only heard of people involving the WRC in cases of unfair dismissal. Maybe we need a thread in the work/jobs forum.

I have a bad feeling that state employees who could WFH will get little union support on this - as the strong unions seem to be those who represent front line staff i.e. those who won't be able to WFH.

Front line workers could also be used as a reason to not grant WFH to anyone. This is the sort of management style that is widespread in the PS - we can't grant WFH to administrators as then the nurses union might kick up a stink (even though we haven't actually engaged with that union) so let's just choose the safe option with the least potential for hassle. We can't have managers having any hassle to deal with!

I think WFH has really shown up bad management in the PS. Many already knew it was bad with many managers weak, neurotic, set in their ways and insecure with some sadists and bullies out there too. HR Depts will always try to fob off issues to individual managers - no policy on WFH and left up to individual managers to decide. Result is favouritism or people being allowed/not allowed WFH because of who their manager is, not because of the work that they do.

In a highly unionised sector like the PS, the unions and therefore employees are part of management. Managers in the PS cannot manage in the way managers in the private sector can, since any change in conditions or additional flexibility requires a lot of negotiations with staff. Granting WFH for some employees could result in issues elsewhere. Maybe there will be claims for an "allowance" for those who are not able to work from home? It is a valid concern in fairness and there is nothing in your terms and conditions which state you can work from home.

Well employer and employee in the PS are very resistant to change. It took the Croke Park agreement to get rid of the half an hour a week off to cash cheques (despite being paid electronically).

Eh? Of course it works - because it is done. Mandatory training in how to set up an ergnomic workspace, and how to safeguard client data. Etc etc. To listen to some posters here, none of this is necessary, because everyone already knows how to sit in a chair.

The key thing is - it needs to be done. And there need to be meaningful alternatives for employees who cannot provide a business-appropriate workspace.