My Department continues to work as per transitional work arrangements following the lifting of restrictions on workplace attendance in the spring of this year. Staff who normally worked from home under pandemic restrictions currently attend the office on a minimum of 2 days per week. Since these arrangements are transitional, no formal agreement is in place and no applications have been made or, in turn, denied, for transitional working arrangements.
In respect of the longer-term, my Department formally launched its Blended Working policy in July 2022, which has been developed in line with the central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service. My Department is moving into the implementation phase of this policy and will commence accepting applications for Blended Working in late September. The Blended Working Framework does not allow for fully remote work and as such 5 day per week working from home arrangements are not available in my Department.
Separately, employees who have been classified as extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 (based on the current HSE guidelines) may apply to work from home. Employees within this category are required to submit a letter to HR, from their doctor, in relation to their condition, stating that the doctor considers them to be in the extremely high-risk category. The employee will then be referred to the Chief Medical Officer who will confirm to my Department whether they should remain working from home. In such cases, the decision on whether an employee may work from home is based on the advice given by the Chief Medical Officer.
My Department considers such arrangements as temporary, and subject to change based on updated public health advice, new medical knowledge about COVID-19 and/or changes to the employee’s medical condition.
A small number (fewer than 10) staff members who are considered extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 (as per the HSE guidelines) have, in line with the Chief Medical Officer’s advice, been granted permission to remain working at home temporarily.
