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
Starmer calls for 'duty of candour' after infected blood scandal
23 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
Starmer calls for 'duty of candour' after infected blood scandal
Infected blood scandal is "truly shocking, but it is not unique", with "concerns raised but ignored", Labour leader says
Infected blood scandal: Interim chair of new compensation body named
22 May 2024 Health & Social Care
Infected blood scandal: Interim chair of new compensation body named
Victims set for interim payments of £210K and full settlements of up to £2.735m, according to documents
Unions call for independent inquiry into sexual harassment at MoD
22 May 2024 Security & Defence
Unions call for independent inquiry into sexual harassment at MoD
"Comprehensive" investigation is needed that makes binding recommendations for the Ministry of Defence, letter says
Cabinet Office rebuts call to give more detail on 'vague' Civil Service People Plan
22 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
Cabinet Office rebuts call to give more detail on 'vague' Civil Service People Plan
MPs said civil service workforce strategy "does not provide enough clarity" on how it will meet its aims
PCS conference votes for new strike strategy, including demand for 100,000 more civil service jobs
22 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
PCS conference votes for new strike strategy, including demand for 100,000 more civil service jobs
Union delegates at conference ignore warnings that pivot to new approach could bring pay dispute “back to square one”
FCDO urged to 'step up and take effective action' as aid prevented from reaching Gaza
21 May 2024 Foreign Affairs
FCDO urged to 'step up and take effective action' as aid prevented from reaching Gaza
Diplomatic attempts to improve access for aid have been "ineffective", ICAI report finds
Infected blood scandal: Report blasts 'defensive' civil service spin
21 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
Infected blood scandal: Report blasts 'defensive' civil service spin
Call for senior civil servants to face new statutory duties over advice to perm secs and ministers
Border Force staff to stage another strike at Heathrow
21 May 2024 HR
Border Force staff to stage another strike at Heathrow
More than 500 PCS members in Border Force will walk out later this month in a dispute over changes to shift patterns
Post-Brexit border plan suffering from resourcing and oversight issues, NAO warns
20 May 2024 Brexit
Post-Brexit border plan suffering from resourcing and oversight issues, NAO warns
Watchdog says government's border plan lacks an integrated cross-government delivery plan, while programmes face resourcing uncertainty
NI power vacuum 'didn't affect Covid response', Sue Gray tells inquiry
20 May 2024 Coronavirus
NI power vacuum 'didn't affect Covid response', Sue Gray tells inquiry
Former perm sec doubts presence of ministers would have improved on civil service efforts to prepare for "unprecedented" crisis
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – May 20
20 May 2024 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – May 20
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People
Deal secures land for new civil service hub in Manchester
17 May 2024 HR
Deal secures land for new civil service hub in Manchester
Multi-department digital campus will host 7,000 jobs on site of former shopping centre
King Charles takes on civil service patron roles
17 May 2024 Culture
King Charles takes on civil service patron roles
Monarch becomes patron of the Charity for Civil Servants and the Civil Service Club
DHSC second perm sec hired as next chief exec of St John Ambulance
17 May 2024 Health & Social Care
DHSC second perm sec hired as next chief exec of St John Ambulance
Shona Dunn will leave civil service to take helm of first-aid charity in September
Second union to join G4S security-staff strike at DWP
17 May 2024 HR
Second union to join G4S security-staff strike at DWP
PCS members on DWP’s G4S contract vote to walk out after GMB strikes closed 70 jobcentres last week
HMRC gets £51m to improve helplines as NAO finds customers are ‘being let down’
16 May 2024 Government Tax Profession
HMRC gets £51m to improve helplines as NAO finds customers are ‘being let down’
Reducing HMRC helpline staff too early in digitalisation drive has left holes in customer service, watchdog says
Covid Inquiry: Sue Gray says siloed working 'worse in Northern Ireland than Whitehall'
16 May 2024 Coronavirus
Covid Inquiry: Sue Gray says siloed working 'worse in Northern Ireland than Whitehall'
Former Cabinet Office second perm sec tells panel devolved governments need to work more closely with Westminster on emergency responses
Just four major departments meet threshold for strike action in PCS pay ballot
16 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
Just four major departments meet threshold for strike action in PCS pay ballot
Departments which failed to meet threshold include Cabinet Office, DWP, HMRC and Treasury
Skills deficit leaves departments 'too reliant on suppliers' for major projects, MPs say
15 May 2024 Commercial
Skills deficit leaves departments 'too reliant on suppliers' for major projects, MPs say
A lack of project-management, technical and engineering skills is undermining projects, PAC report warns
DBT setting up 'emergency response function', perm sec says
15 May 2024 Coronavirus
DBT setting up 'emergency response function', perm sec says
Gareth Davies tells MPs work is part of broader learning from Covid support schemes
Defra seeks chief exec for Marine Management Organisation
15 May 2024 Brexit
Defra seeks chief exec for Marine Management Organisation
Department offers £120k to lead the 500-strong marine regulator
Lanyard decree missing from new EDI guidance
15 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
Lanyard decree missing from new EDI guidance
Proposal to ban lanyards that aren’t “standard design” not included in Cabinet Office guidance on equality, diversity and inclusion
DWP beats counter-fraud target by £50m
14 May 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP beats counter-fraud target by £50m
Update confirms plan to use temporary staff to fill 2,500 roles reviewing Universal Credit claims
Public confidence in ONS remains high as trust in civil service dips
14 May 2024 Statistics
Public confidence in ONS remains high as trust in civil service dips
Survey shows robust faith in official statistics but trust in civil service has fallen to 75%