So, the civil servants are at it again. Or rather they’re not, as they’re still “working” from home, painting their toenails, doing the laundry, watching reruns of Deal or No Deal and sequencing automated email replies. As if it wasn’t enough that they’re complaining about having to go back to the office three days a week, civil servants have launched a campaign for a four-day week with no loss of pay following a successful trial in the private sector. Staff working in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have called for a pilot scheme involving more than 21,000 employees, claiming it would benefit their productivity and wellbeing (even though civil servants working for Defra already benefit from flexible working arrangements, including flexible hours and work from home).
Last month Whitehall finally issues a WFM directive, telling civil servants to go back to the office for three days a week, triggering a backlash from some staff who claimed it was such an outrageous ask that they were considering quitting. Now, the call for a shorter working week has been made after a six-month trial involving 61 companies, a period in which their revenues all increased. What’s good for the private sector is good for the public, apparently. Mark Serwotka, the general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which is belligerently spearheading the campaign, says, “Evidence suggests a four-day week would lead to a better work-life balance for staff and could improve productivity for the employer. If Defra wants to seriously address the issues of employee burnout, stress and poor wellbeing they will listen to our members and implement this pilot.”
