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
Appointments row: Civil Service Commission 'satisfied' with how departments are using exceptions
20 Nov 2024 HR
Appointments row: Civil Service Commission 'satisfied' with how departments are using exceptions
Review follows "cronyism" accusations after a handful of appointments of senior civil servants with links to the Labour Party
Disclosure and Barring Service staff vote to strike
20 Nov 2024 HR
Disclosure and Barring Service staff vote to strike
Members of the PCS union oppose new "customer contact" model set to be introduced at background-checks body
Winter fuel payment cut will push 50,000 pensioners into poverty, DWP admits
20 Nov 2024 Analysis
Winter fuel payment cut will push 50,000 pensioners into poverty, DWP admits
Kendall meanwhile snubs call for "more detailed assessment" of poverty impacts, including on different protected groups
FCDO was too ambitious in first year of merger, perm sec says
20 Nov 2024 Foreign Affairs
FCDO was too ambitious in first year of merger, perm sec says
Philip Barton also says the department has improved how it responds to crises by making its workforce more agile
Barton: FCDO needs new funding model
19 Nov 2024 Economics
Barton: FCDO needs new funding model
Department will require hundreds of millions of pounds more after 2026-27, perm sec says
Cabinet Office scraps 'ambitious and expensive' vetting transformation programme
19 Nov 2024 Security & Defence
Cabinet Office scraps 'ambitious and expensive' vetting transformation programme
Perm sec Cat Little says strategy to modernise and improve vetting services has moved away from previous "big bang" approach
Office attendance row: Land Registry officials to vote on strikes over 60% rule
19 Nov 2024 HR
Office attendance row: Land Registry officials to vote on strikes over 60% rule
PCS to ballot more than 3,800 members at HM Land Registry over in-office mandate and other concerns
DWP flags 15,000 carer's allowance overpayments in six months
19 Nov 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP flags 15,000 carer's allowance overpayments in six months
Internal DWP stats show 50 carer's allowance debts of more than £10,000 have been logged in the first half of the year
MoD to investigate potential for AI to improve productivity
18 Nov 2024 Security & Defence
MoD to investigate potential for AI to improve productivity
Department will develop 'productivity portfolio' to identify possible uses of emerging technology
Boosting pay and tackling poor performance should be on Office for Value for Money's agenda – report
18 Nov 2024 Finance
Boosting pay and tackling poor performance should be on Office for Value for Money's agenda – report
New unit should assess cost-benefit analysis of retaining poor performers versus managing them out, Reform think tank says
Home Office to create unit to track policing performance
18 Nov 2024 Justice & Home Affairs
Home Office to create unit to track policing performance
Unit's work will enable home secretary to take “more hands-on approach" to driving improvements in policing
PM rules out four-day week for civil servants
15 Nov 2024 Civil Service Reform
PM rules out four-day week for civil servants
Civil service union PCS accuses government of ignoring "real gains" that a shorter working week can offer
Home Office under fire for another botched asylum centre deal
15 Nov 2024 Finance
Home Office under fire for another botched asylum centre deal
Department spent £15.4m on East Sussex prison site deemed unfit to use because of contamination
Cabinet Office seeks new PPS for Starmer, weeks after Pandit 'appointment'
15 Nov 2024 HR
Cabinet Office seeks new PPS for Starmer, weeks after Pandit 'appointment'
Recruitment campaign offers up to £149k a year for permanent successor to Elizabeth Perelman
DBT second perm sec departing and won’t be replaced
15 Nov 2024 Foreign Affairs
DBT second perm sec departing and won’t be replaced
Crawford Falconer’s responsibilities to be shared by several civil servants
Ministers drop hostilities against four-day week council
14 Nov 2024 HR
Ministers drop hostilities against four-day week council
MHCLG acknowledges authority is an "independent employer" but refuses to support shorter working hours for full pay
MHCLG to close six offices
14 Nov 2024 HR
MHCLG to close six offices
Office for Place will also be wound down, minister announces
'It's not the 1970s': Minister rejects call for civil servants to get four-day week
14 Nov 2024 HR
'It's not the 1970s': Minister rejects call for civil servants to get four-day week
Emma Reynolds says she doesn't believe PCS union's evidence on benefits of four-day week
Four-day week could save Defra millions, union says
13 Nov 2024 Civil Service Reform
Four-day week could save Defra millions, union says
Move could cut sick days and churn, PCS says as survey shows support for change in working pattern
Inquiry into DWP safeguarding of vulnerable benefit claimants reopens
13 Nov 2024
Inquiry into DWP safeguarding of vulnerable benefit claimants reopens
Committee asks whether DWP needs a statutory duty to safeguard the wellbeing of vulnerable claimants
Think tank calls for 'significant' hike in spad numbers – plus higher pay
13 Nov 2024 Civil Service Reform
Think tank calls for 'significant' hike in spad numbers – plus higher pay
Francis Maude's "extended ministerial offices" should also be revived, Reform report says
Covid Inquiry: Treasury and No.10 blocked NHS request for 10,000 extra beds
12 Nov 2024 Coronavirus
Covid Inquiry: Treasury and No.10 blocked NHS request for 10,000 extra beds
NHS chief exec defends decisions on Nightingale Hospitals, which cost £358m but were largely unused
Headhunters to help fill longstanding Climate Change Committee chair vacancy
12 Nov 2024 Energy & Environment
Headhunters to help fill longstanding Climate Change Committee chair vacancy
DESNZ signs £30,000 deal with Saxton Bampfylde to carry out the search nearly 18 months after last chair stepped down
Public services facing financial uncertainty despite Budget spending boost – IfG
12 Nov 2024 Finance
Public services facing financial uncertainty despite Budget spending boost – IfG
It is “unlikely” that public services will see a notable improvement in performance next year, think tank warns