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Many Whitehall mandarins do not expect to return to the office before the new year, say insiders

Many civil servants do not expect to return to Whitehall until 2021 - Hollie Adams/Bloomberg
Many civil servants do not expect to return to Whitehall until 2021 - Hollie Adams/Bloomberg
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter

Downing Street's drive to set an example by getting civil servants back to the office is in disarray after it emerged that some staff do not expect to return in a full-time capacity until the new year.

On Tuesday evening, civil servants from two Whitehall departments said they did not expect to be back in the office until January.

One told The Telegraph: "You come in maybe a day a week to show your face" but added the expectation is that – as with companies such as RBS – working from home will continue until 2021.

A source from another department, who confirmed there are expectations that working from home will be the status quo for the rest for this year, said the internal messages to civil servants are at odds with the political messaging from Number 10.

"The civil service just don't see the need to come back in – they're quite happy working from home," the source said. "That's not what the political side want, obviously."

On August 1, new Government guidance came into force, giving businesses more discretion to bring staff back to work and taking away previous advice that people should work from home where they can.

Government ministers and the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, have expressed concerns that low numbers of people returning to work will further damage the economy.

Andrew Bailey has expressed concern that low numbers of people returning to work will further damage the economy - Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
Andrew Bailey has expressed concern that low numbers of people returning to work will further damage the economy - Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

Alex Chisholm, the chief operating officer of the civil service, has written to all Whitehall departments saying  it was time to "accelerate the return to the workplace".

However, as many as four fifths of civil servants are currently working from home.

A civil servant from a third department said mandarins will be given "at least a month's notice" before having to stop working from home.

The source said: "We've had no formal confirmation when everybody's expected to return at full capacity. People will need to be given at least a month's notice – we won't be told on Friday to go back on Monday."

One Government source believes September will be a "crunch point" when more members of the public will return to the office and "it will be hard for them [Whitehall staff] to find reasons not to go back".

"In September more people will go back, big businesses will start to stagger returning people to work," the source continued.

"At that point, the unions will start  to look like they are on their own in not supporting going back. The tide will then turn, and the public will be on the Government's side – they will say: 'Why the hell are you not going back?'"

Dave Penman, the general secretary of the FDA, the trade union representing civil servants, said: "The majority of civil servants are working successfully from home. Ministers need to recognise this, and allow the civil service to manage this transition."

A Government source has confirmed there is "no order to get back into the office" for civil servants but added that work is ongoing to increase capacity across Whitehall.

A Government spokesman said: "Civil servants have worked throughout the pandemic and have made significant, valuable contributions towards the national effort.

"We are consulting closely with employees on ending the default that civil servants should work from home and have ensured workplaces are Covid-secure so civil servants can return safely."