Nadine Doris criticized Jacob Rees-Mogg, a minister responsible for Brexit opportunities and government effectiveness, for imposing a “Dickensian” approach to working from home in the civil service.
Reese-Mogg, formerly known as an “honorary member of the 18th century,” wrote to cabinet ministers urging them to force employees to “return to the office quickly” and left notes in Whitehall’s empty workspace with the message: ” I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon.
Labor lawmakers called the move “patronizing” and “passive-aggressive”.
Last week, Rees-Mogh presented figures to the cabinet showing that some government departments used only 25% of office capacity in early April. Doris’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Division was 43%.
The secretary of culture said Reese-Mogg’s letter to government officials was reminiscent of “images of burning tallow, jealous eyes and the ghost of Marley” in connection with Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol.”
She said: “There is a touch of something Dickensian in this. Why do we measure bodies behind desks? Why don’t we measure productivity? “
The Times reported that several other cabinet ministers had reservations about plans to forcibly return civil servants to the office, and that some permanent secretaries had also expressed concerns.
Doris and Rees-Mogg had previously disagreed on the need to return to work after the coronavirus restrictions were lifted. However, a government source told the agency that the dispute between the two was “good-natured”.
Dave Penman, secretary general of the FDA, which represents senior government officials, said Reese-Mogh’s approach would mean “good people will leave and the civil service brand will be broken in a highly competitive job market.”
He said: “This sends a signal that he simply does not understand how modern offices work. He doesn’t understand … what’s going on in the economy, not just in the public sector. “
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Reese-Mogg uses an article in the Mail on Sunday to say that employees may lose the burden of London on their pay or see that their work has been moved elsewhere if they are not at their desks.
“Those who are at their desks every day look younger, hard-working and ambitious civil servants, often renting housing in London, for whom the office provides the right working environment.
“Meanwhile, others are enjoying the fruits of their London weigh-in at home in the counties. As Minister for State Property, my job is to ensure that state property is managed efficiently and commercially. Empty offices are an expense for the taxpayer.
“Essentially, if people don’t go back to their office, it would be fair to assume that the work doesn’t have to be in London,” he said.
Internal HR policies received from the Daily Mail say that remote work cannot be used as a way to avoid paying for childcare or to spend less time, and that there will be sanctions if work is found to be people suffer.
Oliver Dowden, chairman of the Conservative Party, defended Reese-Mogg’s approach in an interview with Sky News.
He said: “As we learn to live with Covid, I think that if we really want to best serve the British people, one of the things we need to do is have this collaboration, this kind of sharing of ideas that comes from office work.
“So Jacob’s efforts are driven by getting the best value for taxpayers, and I support that.”
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