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 moved to the implementation phase of this policy and commenced accepting applications for Blended Working in early October 2022. Rollout of Blended Working across the entire organisation was completed by end of March, 2023. Prior to the implementation of Blended Working on a rolling basis between October 2022 and March 2023, staff of my Department worked under transitional arrangements following the lifting of public health restrictions in response to COVID-19 in February 2022. These transitional arrangements involved attendance in the office for 2 days per week, with additional days in the office subject to business need.
Under the Blended Working policy, staff of my Department with suitable roles, performance and remote workstations may apply for a blended working arrangement. The blended working model used in my Department specifies 3 days working in the office and 2 days working from home, with a flexible option of 2 days a week in the office and 3 days working from home. This flexibility is at the discretion of the Head of Business Unit and takes account of business needs to ensure service delivery and organisational cohesion. The Blended Working Framework does not allow for fully remote work and 5 days per week working from home arrangements are not available in my Department.
My Department is not in a position to provide the average working hours that staff work from home, as the utilisation of the clock-in system is only mandatory for staff who are eligible to accrue flexitime. Staff on a standard work pattern are expected to work a minimum of 7 hours each day and are required to be on duty during core hours.
The number, percentage and gender breakdown of staff working from home / remotely is set out in the table below.
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*2022
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2023
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Total number of staff as of 31st December
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1605
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1717
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Number of staff who work from home/remotely as part of working week
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1298
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1359
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Percentage of Staff who work from home at least one day per week
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80.87%
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79.15%
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Gender breakdown of those who work from home /remotely
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- Female 689, (53.08%)
- Male 609, (46.92%)
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- Female 715, (52.61%)
- Male 644, (47.39%)
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*Combined transitional and formal blended working arrangements
