As the government cracks down on work from home, civil servants defy orders and refuse to lead the way.
Whitehall is seeing thousands of people not returning to work despite Steve Barclay (Cabinet Office enforcer) telling high-ranking officials that the Government offices need to be used to maximum extent starting this week.
Ministerial Departments saw an increase in attendance over last week but many staff welcomed back their desks Monday morning, according to a Daily Mail audit.
At Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs’ cavernous 6,500-capacity building in Longbenton, North Tyneside, reporters counted just 227 people arriving for work between 7.30 and 11am – 3 per cent.
Friday’s announcement by Mr Barclay (Chancellor of Lancaster) was that civil servants will be returning to their offices full-time after the lifting of Plan B restrictions, as the country learns to live with Covid.
On Monday morning, there was an increase of 6 percent in entry-exit times on London Underground. This is 45 percentage more than normal levels pre-pandemic.
On London buses, again up to 10am on Monday morning, there were around 1.17million boarding taps – up 1 per cent compared to last Monday and 69 per cent of normal.
At the Department for Education’s seven-storey, 2,000-capacity Westminster Headquarters, 238 employees entered the main entrance on Monday. While this markedly improved on Friday’s turnout record of 63 employees, the total number of staff entering the main entrance was still less than 11%.
On Monday, 215 people arrived for work at Horse Guards Road headquarters in Westminster. Although the actual number is higher as there are many entrances to the building, the total attendance is only a small fraction of the 2200 workers it holds.
The Department for Work and Pensions central London office recorded 173 workers arriving at work between 7:30 and 11 AM. Although this was a significant improvement over the number of 94 individuals who arrived on Friday morning, it only represented 10% of 1,700 workers the building has.
Ministers are hopeful that private firms will emulate the government’s lead and return their employees to work. This would boost the health of the ailing centres, which were previously harmed by the work from home culture.
Trade unions have expressed concern over the decision. Dave Penman (general secretary of FDA Civil Service Union) called the plan a “distraction” from the ‘partygate’ scandals that are engulfing Downing Street.
The Department for Education headquarters, with seven floors and a capacity for 2,000 people, was filled to the brim Monday. At least 238 personnel entered the main entry.
Although this was an improvement on Friday’s turnout of only 63, it still represents less than 11% of employees.
One security officer admitted that attendance was low but Education Secretary Nadhim Zhawi tried to show leadership by arriving in the office at 9:15 for departmental business.
It was recorded that 173 people arrived at the Department for Work and Pensions London central London location between 7:30 and 11 AM.
Commuters commute on a Jubilee Line train via the London Underground at the early morning rush hour of 7.30 am today
Underground commuters board an underground train at Finchley Road Station in North West London around 7.30 am this morning
Commuters are seated on a Jubilee Line train today as they travel to Central London for work at around 7.30 am.
Underground commuters waited for the train at Finchley Road station, North West London, at around 7.30am today
Commuters are seated on a Jubilee Line train today as they travel to Central London for work at around 7.30 am.
Commuters ride on a Jubilee train as they commute to Central London this morning at 7.30am.
Therese Coffey (Work and Pensions Secretary) arrived at 7.47am in her chauffeur-driven Government Jaguar.
Although this was a significant improvement from the 94 employees who showed up on Friday to work, it only represented 10% of the 1,700 employees that the building could hold.
According to Miss Coffey, the office was not yet fully operational. However, she stated that they would soon be back to normal. Former and present high ranking MPs have attacked the reluctance of Miss Coffey to go back to work.
Sir Vince Cable (former business secretary, Liberal Democrat leader) warned on Monday about the ‘damage’ that can result from’mass absenceeism’. He cited the Foreign Office’s pathetic handling the Afghanistan evacuation.
Transport for London’s graph shows that Tube use fell in December 2021, but has started to recover this month.
The Transport for London graph below shows how Underground use has changed in the past two years. It is broken down by station type.
He stated that there is ample evidence to show semi-permanent work from home can reduce efficiency and productivity in the civil service.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith was a former Tory leader. He stated: “The signal that this sends is “do what we say, and not what we do.”
Around 215 people arrived at Westminster’s Treasury Headquarters on Horse Guards Road on Monday morning to work.
As there are many entrances to the building, the actual number could be higher. However, the presence is only a fraction the 2200 workers the building houses.