Civil servants in Northern Ireland must spend at least two days a week in the office from next month, according to an updated hybrid-working policy.
New guidance coming into force next month says staff must spend “at least 40% of their contractual working hours each week” in their office. The policy applies to all Northern Ireland Civil Service departments.
The Nipsa trade union has opposed the change, saying it “will continue to monitor the imposition and ensure that there is flexibility particularly for those staff with disabilities or who need adjustment and flexibility for other reasons”.
It has said the plan should be delayed "to allow for proper preparation and communication".
In a letter to union members seen by BBC News NI, deputy general secretary Maria Morgan said Nipsa had "consistently opposed the introduction of a mandatory 40% office attendance requirement".
"We maintain that the current hybrid arrangements are working well and meeting business needs while supporting staff flexibility," she said.
She said "accommodation constraints" in some locations "may make increased office attendance impractical".
These constraints were the subject of discussion at an evidence session held by Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for Finance in May. Sharon Smyth, deputy secretary for construction and procurement delivery in the DoF, told the committee that an HR review of the hybrid-working policy was under way and would give “a direction on back-to-the-office”.
At the time, she said 50% office attendance was her team’s planning baseline for NICS, while most departments were aiming for 40%. She said there was not enough space to accommodate civil servants working from the office 80% of the time.
“At the minute we think we have sufficient space for whatever policy levers are there. But if they were to say, for example, ‘everybody’s coming back four days a week’ we wouldn’t have the space. We wouldn’t have the physical accommodation for people to do that,” she said.
The NICS is in the middle of a programme to cut the number of offices NICS staff operate from by 28 over the next three years. Smyth told the finance committee the programme was on track to meet its targets in May.
In a statement, the DoF said the NICS office estate “can accommodate the hybrid-working policy workplace attendance requirements, which will be managed locally by departments/business areas”.
A DoF spokesperson said: "A review of the hybrid working policy has been completed, involving formal consultation with recognised trade unions.
"The updated policy will be implemented across all NICS departments during September 2025 with full implementation expected by end of October 2025.
"As a result of the revised policy, staff engaged in hybrid working must attend their designated workplace for at least 40% of their contractual working hours each week.
"For those with alternative working patterns, this requirement will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.”