DWP annnounces 60% in-office rule across all grades from September
09 May HR

DWP annnounces 60% in-office rule across all grades from September

PCS says the decision is "a backward step" and that trusting staff to work from home "has been shown to improve productivity"
by Tevye Markson
Sir Ian Diamond steps down as UK’s national statistician
09 May HR
Sir Ian Diamond steps down as UK’s national statistician
Union anger as ex-cabinet minister accuses officials of being Putin-appeasers
09 May Foreign Affairs
Union anger as ex-cabinet minister accuses officials of being Putin-appeasers
Agentic AI ‘could boost government productivity by 20-30%’, former lead NED says
09 May Digital, Data & Technology
Agentic AI ‘could boost government productivity by 20-30%’, former lead NED says
PM warned to stop flexible-working ‘culture war’ with civil service
12 May 2022 HR
PM warned to stop flexible-working ‘culture war’ with civil service
Departmental leaders should decide how – and from where – officials deliver on priorities, FDA chief tells union’s annual conference
HMRC to open 12th regional hub later this month
11 May 2022 Civil Service Reform
HMRC to open 12th regional hub later this month
Manchester will open next as part of a strategy the department says will save it more than £300m by 2026
Cost of living: Gove dismisses emergency budget speculation as government insists 'money is finite'
11 May 2022 Economy
Cost of living: Gove dismisses emergency budget speculation as government insists 'money is finite'
PM's pledge that "we will be saying more and doing more" to tackle soaring costs does not mean an emergency budget is coming
Passport office launches hiring drive amid ‘unprecedented’ demand
11 May 2022 HR
Passport office launches hiring drive amid ‘unprecedented’ demand
Campaign seeks 99 operational team leaders and counter team leaders following surge in applications
Queen’s Speech: Government pledges to ‘grow and strengthen economy’ amid cost-of-living crisis
10 May 2022 Economy
Queen’s Speech: Government pledges to ‘grow and strengthen economy’ amid cost-of-living crisis
Speech includes no new measures despite saying ministers understand "how the rising cost of living is making life harder for people"
Defra accused of ‘undermining’ unions with pay survey
10 May 2022 Energy & Environment
Defra accused of ‘undermining’ unions with pay survey
PCS urges members not to express willingness to sacrifice terms and conditions in return for inflationary rise
Ageing DWP IT 'stopped Sunak raising benefits to keep pace with inflation'
10 May 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
Ageing DWP IT 'stopped Sunak raising benefits to keep pace with inflation'
Reports claim chancellor was advised that payments of legacy benefits could only be increased once a year
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – May 9
09 May 2022 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – May 9
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
MoJ civil servant won six-figure sum over 20-year 'racial discrimination ordeal'
09 May 2022 HR
MoJ civil servant won six-figure sum over 20-year 'racial discrimination ordeal'
Olivea Ebanks said she would “never recommend that anybody works in the civil service” after her experience
'Naked cronyism' jab as two Tory donors appointed to public health roles
06 May 2022 Coronavirus
'Naked cronyism' jab as two Tory donors appointed to public health roles
DHSC and UKHSA say all government protocols were followed in making the appointments
Cabinet Office signs £400k deal for digital accessibility audits
06 May 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
Cabinet Office signs £400k deal for digital accessibility audits
Central department stresses importance of ‘highest standards’, given its role in ensuring others’ compliance with regulation
Former DCMS perm sec takes on UK Debt Management Office role
06 May 2022 Finance
Former DCMS perm sec takes on UK Debt Management Office role
Sue Owen’s appointment as non-exec chair of advisory board marks return to DMO after 16 years
EXCL: DfE morale at 'all-time low' over hybrid working row as staff feel 'alienated by leadership' Exclusive
05 May 2022 Education
EXCL: DfE morale at 'all-time low' over hybrid working row as staff feel 'alienated by leadership'
Civil servants demand to know how leaders plan to rebuild trust after office-return guidance and failure to defend them from political attack
DfT to screen job applicants' social media accounts
05 May 2022 Communications
DfT to screen job applicants' social media accounts
Capita will also perform social media "recruitment checks" for would-be DVLA and DVSA staff
DfE staff ‘offered 80:20’ hybrid working as default
05 May 2022 Education
DfE staff ‘offered 80:20’ hybrid working as default
Pledge follows last month’s orders to return to pre-pandemic working patterns “immediately”
‘Reluctance bordering on hostility’: ex-diplomat says civil service ‘anti-Brexit protectionism’ hampered trade deal
05 May 2022 Brexit
‘Reluctance bordering on hostility’: ex-diplomat says civil service ‘anti-Brexit protectionism’ hampered trade deal
Former Australian high commissioner to the UK says Defra officials were most hostile to negotiations
HMRC accused of ignoring public health guidance in demand for Wales office return
04 May 2022 Civil Service Reform
HMRC accused of ignoring public health guidance in demand for Wales office return
Department's “move away” from Welsh Covid guidance is “deeply concerning”, PCS says
Government digital profession given licence to offer £45k a year extra for key senior roles
04 May 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
Government digital profession given licence to offer £45k a year extra for key senior roles
Pilot scheme will allow DDaT posts to tap into ‘pivotal role allowance’
Data black hole means government lacks grasp on two-thirds of local spending
04 May 2022 Analysis
Data black hole means government lacks grasp on two-thirds of local spending
Government does not understand why local authority performances vary due to £10bn data gap, think tank says
Home Office official found guilty of spiking pregnant lover’s drink with abortion pills
04 May 2022 HR
Home Office official found guilty of spiking pregnant lover’s drink with abortion pills
Deputy director Darren Burke joined the civil service in August 2020
Home Office’s secretive anti-extremism comms unit signs £1m media monitoring deal
03 May 2022 Communications
Home Office’s secretive anti-extremism comms unit signs £1m media monitoring deal
RICU facility signs two-year contract
Vaccine Taskforce boss drafted in to deal with HRT crisis
03 May 2022 Health & Social Care
Vaccine Taskforce boss drafted in to deal with HRT crisis
Madelaine McTernan will focus on resolving supply-chain issues affecting some products
Ex-civil service head questions plans for large-scale staff cuts
03 May 2022 Civil Service Reform
Ex-civil service head questions plans for large-scale staff cuts
Lord Kerslake says huge challenges require “right-sized” workforce as former civil service chief exec Manzoni issues caution over skills gaps
‘We did what we could as quickly as we could’: Treasury perm sec rejects Covid fraud complacency claims
29 Apr 2022 Commercial
‘We did what we could as quickly as we could’: Treasury perm sec rejects Covid fraud complacency claims
Tom Scholar told the Treasury Committee officials put together loan schemes under "exceptional circumstances"