The boss of Liverpool City Council has said "too many staff are working from home" and told people to come in and work from the Cunard Building more regularly.
In a message to all staff at the city council, interim chief executive Theresa Grant expressed frustration at how many of her staff members are choosing to work from home on various days across the week.
She said: "It has become clear that too many staff are working from home and are not abiding by the agile working policy. I would like you all to work from the Cunard building for 3 days a week (if you work full time) and for your team to be in the Cunard across all five days (the building is very empty on Mondays and Fridays)."
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"Please do remember that your contracts are based on you working five days in the office, so we are already relaxing that obligation."
In her message, Ms Grant, who will soon be replaced by permanent chief executive Andrew Lewis, stressed that the city council is at a "really important moment" in its improvement journey, adding: "but it’s going to take a huge, collective effort to make the changes we need."
She added: "Whilst I know you work hard at home – and I’ll be clear that I’m not suggesting you’re not productive when you’re not in the office – you cannot underestimate the value of the conversations you’re missing out on if you’re not regularly here in the Cunard Building.
"I’ve had enough Teams and face-to-face meetings to see the difference between the two; the debate is more energetic and the conversations are more organic with people chipping in left, right and centre when you’re physically together. Not to mention the conversations you have as you leave the room and walk back to your desks, which tend to be the ones where a breakthrough on a problem or issue occurs."
Ms Grant said the council is doing its best to make the Cunard an enjoyable place to work and will review all meeting rooms so they better meet the demands of agile working, such as creating more private spaces and better technology. She said a prayer room has been opened and there are plans for additional facilities to support wellbeing.
The interim council boss did point out that when Liverpool plays host to Eurovision in May, with a lot of disruption expected around the Pier Head area, the working from the office rules will be relaxed.
Responding to the message, Liverpool Council's opposition leader Cllr Richard Kemp said he felt the council were "getting the balance right." He added: "Face to face meetings are important. They have a richness which is not possible on laptop conversations. Not everything can be done on Teams or Zoom. This is not an attack on staff but a sensible way forward."
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