Civil Service - Post Lockdown - Blended Working?

The EU directive on work life balance 2019/1158 (which includes right to request remote working if you have kids under 8/ disabled relative) does have to be transposed in some form by August this year (because the EU has told us to do this). At that point private sector employees can rely on whatever legislation is put in place. But this isn't some huge gift from Varadkar to employees.

This is a legally binding obligation under EU rules (and i bet that directive will be interpreted as narrowly as legally possible)

However, Civil servants can rely on the directive since 2019 and don't have to wait for any legislation. This is because of the principle of "direct effect".

Directives once published have to be immediately applied by public bodies.

But no-one appears to be aware of this least of all the unions??!

Makes you wonder where the unions stand on the issue of remote working !

Have there been any discussions regarding what blended working is actually going to mean regarding flexi and the likes of opting to WFH on a day you are due in office and attending office on a different day etc. While some Depts have taken a Dept wide approach to date not all have, if local management impose less flexible conditions staff will opt to seek a move

What? This is not how direct effect works at all.

You have to take a two hour obligatory lunch?

Well, that’s shite. Even before the pandemic I was losing flexi hours at the end of the month anyway. So I’d be happy to remove flexi for the days WFH. Clock in and out for lunch/when entering and leaving when Im in the office then so I can get the train. Simples.

I will now, thx. Especially as we’re returning to the office, time I take back my rights.

i was not clocking as my manager told me not to clock lunches while WFH.

Dreading it! Back to traffic and the old grind as the boomers want. They won’t be here to deal with the climate change impact, it will be for the younger generation to handle.

Have little to no faith in whatever wfh policy they are developing. Any wfh policy that had to be put on hold in November due to omicron won't be worth much. What I mean by that is if the people developing the policy felt they couldn't continue work on the policy remotely they probably have an office first mentality.

The aim of the directive is probably to take the pressure off child care and health care only. Reducing costs for Governments. For example it may be the case that I provide palliative care at home instead of the government hiring an expensive home nurse or re-opening regional hospital palliative care units (many closed last year due to costs).

Other workers are cash cows providing revenue in their commute and at coffee shops etc.

If you’re hoping all civil servants will get WFH it is best look to the private sector.

A range of private sector companies across a variety of fields have already implemented a WFH full-time policy. Dropbox, Novartis, Shopify, spotify, Facebook/Meta, Zillow to name a few.

in fact the new Financial services start-up (often said to be the future of FS) Square quickly agreed a WFH full time policy after Twitter said it was WFH full time.

Google is doing a hybrid model. Microsoft also hybrid but you can apply for full time WFH through your manager.

frankly, if any private sector is reading this I would WFH for less money than I am on now. Rent and bills and costs in Dublin take over half my salary.