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Work from home or walk to office in our Whitehall revolution
Craig Woodhouse, Political Correspondent27 Jan 2012
A permanent Whitehall revolution will see thousands of civil servants working from home or on flexible hours, its architects reveal in the Standard today.
The Olympics will be the catalyst for a radical drive towards a "more corporate" Civil Service, with videoconferencing replacing many face-to-face meetings to increase efficiency and ease pressure on the transport system.
A single security pass and joined-up technology will allow staff to work from almost any government building, freeing up expensive office space in the heart of the capital.
And those who need to work in London will be encouraged to take different routes to the office, travel at different times or even walk.
The shake-up has been devised by Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude and Sir Bob Kerslake, the new head of the Civil Service.
Many of the measures were conceived as ways to help Whitehall run smoothly during this summer's Games - but the two men are determined the changes should stay.
"What we are particularly concerned to do is to find ways of changing behaviour and patterns which will give us a continuing benefit - this is the Civil Service legacy that we are seeking from the Olympics," Mr Maude said during an exclusive interview in his office, overlooking what will become the beach volleyball arena.
Sir Bob, only 25 days into his new post, added: "This is a real chance for people to try something different and we'll learn from it."
The challenge of driving through long-lasting reforms to a traditionally slow-to-adapt Civil Service is not lost on the two men, who have only recently begun working together in such close quarters.
While arch-moderniser Mr Maude, 58, bubbles with enthusiasm about the chance to tackle an "obstructive" culture and "change the managerial mindset", Sir Bob - who is also top civil servant at the Department for Communities and Local Government - is more reserved in his language.
But the 56-year-old clearly shares the ambitions of his ministerial counterpart, talking of using the Olympics as a way of altering "the way things have always been around here".
"The vision is to get a more collaborative way of working, a more corporate way of working in the Civil Service," he said in a quiet West Country lilt. "I think a less hierarchical way of working is good for those in it because they get less of a sense of having to clear everything through a long chain.
"And it potentially allows you to improve the efficiency of the Civil Service as well." Both men admit not all government work can be done from home, and Mr Maude concedes some people "hate" the idea.
But they hail the "great benefits" it can bring, even if only for one day a week. Sir Bob, who only joined Whitehall in 2010 after a career in local government, added: "I think people genuinely welcome the opportunity to try different ways of working, and often it's a perception that it couldn't quite work, or maybe it works in somebody else's office, but it won't work in ours." Mr Maude said: "Actually the truth is that much of what gets done in Whitehall is pretty interchangeable."
They are willing to practise what they preach. Sir Bob will walk to the office during the Olympics and already works from home on occasion, while Mr Maude will cycle and has a videoconferencing set in his office. They both entertain the idea of holding "virtual" Cabinet meetings or gatherings of top civil servants.
They have dubbed the plan Operation Step Change, using the Games as a chance to accelerate modernisation that is already under way.
But the history of Civil Service reform is littered with bitter industrial disputes, and the latest changes risk inflaming already strained relations with unions opposed to job cuts, pay squeezes, promotion freezes and a pension overhaul.
Mr Maude played a key role in making sure November's public sector strike did not bring the country to a halt, and he has a warning to any unions considering action during the Games.
"I think public opinion would come down pretty hard on anyone who deliberately did things that disrupted the Olympics," he said, before issuing a particularly tough message to the PCS union of civil servants.
"The truth is that when PCS has been on strike we are pretty good at keeping things going. And whenever they go on strike, what happens is that it throws up opportunities to do things more efficiently."
Some workers will fear "more efficiently" actually means more cuts. So Mr Maude and Sir Bob might be able to hold off strikes during the Games, but their radical agenda could well store up trouble further down the line.
Reader views (9)
Operation Stepchange, the Government’s remote working trial, acknowledges the need to plan ahead and make sure that the supporting systems are in place in order to avoid major workforce disruption during Olympics.
The disruption that the Olympics will cause to the city’s transport infrastructure, and consequently to its businesses and organisations, should not be underestimated. The effect this will have on workforce productivity alone will be exceptionally damaging to businesses.
Effective communication and business continuity is a basic priority for the majority of organisations. It’s well-known that a break down here can lead to a host of problems like reputational damage and financial loss.
A workforce that’s supported by remote working solutions can carry on ‘business-as-usual’ and they will be far more productive than one that’s stuck elbow-to-elbow on a delayed train. Once a remote working solution is in place, should unforeseen circumstances arise, an organisation can call on those resources immediately knowing that they work in practice.
The technologies which are essential for the workforce to do their jobs remotely must be quickly identified then a best practice solution can be implemented. Collaboration software will enable the workforce to attend online meetings through video conferencing, participate in training sessions remotely and access the corporate network from any location securely.
Andrew Millard, Citrix Online Services Division
- Andrew Millard, Gerrard's Cross, 06/02/2012 14:59
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I run a small medical charity and check for any emails over breakfast before catching the 8.07 bus to work. That way I can use the 40 minute travel time to consider and word any replies so that my time in the office is more effective. Technology is there to be used, not feared.
- Steve, Cirencester, Glos, 28/01/2012 00:04
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If its such a good idea why is'nt the Westminster Parliament and Boris's gang doing it already.
- stuart, chesterfield,derbyshire, 27/01/2012 20:41
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How many times have we heard this working from home rubbish, countless that's how many. People need to interact with each other, shutting yourself at home away from colleagues is bad for your mind and health.
- The prophet of doom, UK Dustbin of Europe, 27/01/2012 19:21
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1. I'm a public sector worker
2. I work in Central London
3. I WON'T be altering my journey pattern one jot
4. If my employer wants me to 'travel/work smarter', I will tell them diplomatically what they can do with their 2012 initiatives
5. I won't be getting a bonus.
6. I will enjoy the wailing and whinging of all those 2012 officials, hangers-on etc, when they're delayed on the tube by signal failures.
I'm a Londoner born and bred and refuse to allow a bunch of corporate trough-swillers to dictate to me how and when I should travel in my own Capital.
- Gatedweller, People's Republic of Newham, 27/01/2012 18:46
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I think a number of people would welcome it as long as it was offered as a choice. Also it wouldn't suit all types of work especially those at the lower grades.
The big issues would be over technology as home working requires secure laptops and good internet connections. Similarly, the one pass idea would require this system to be implemented across all building/staff and with a centralised ID system. Both solutions are costly and technical which the CS is routinely bad at.
This is the future though, it’s just how soon we embrace it and how well it’s done.
- Chris (CS), Birmingham, 27/01/2012 16:16
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How will they call in sick?
I mean if they are already at home were there be any need to call in if you are pretending to be sick?
I guess it will save all of this comparing of sick notes as they will just pretend to be working at home.
These lazy lazy people should be gotten rid off.
We don't need them and we don't need the front line services they insist they provide-us with .
RED KEN WILL RAISE YOUR TAXES
- the pigeons, Muswell hill, 27/01/2012 12:53
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This works in private sector where home workers will log on from 7 am to 1 am to get deals done as will be sacked if do not get targets .
Public sector far too cushy for this and they would still be having lunch hours and tea breaks and charge overtime after 5 pm .You would not even miss them on their sick days .
- Charlie, london, 27/01/2012 12:18
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Working away from base is alright if you're a surveyor, gas engineer, etc. but when you do it in a bureacratic set up such as the Civil Service then you quickly become out of sight and out of mind. Not needed in the office soon becomes not needed at all and you are ripe for the redundancy list. Best to show your face in the office as much as possible and be seen to be working at something!
- Janet, London, UK, 27/01/2012 11:55
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