United Kingdom Public Servants have largely defied an order from Prime Minister, Boris Johnson to return to office work, with an estimated one in 20 back at their desks.
One worker who did return compared their office to “working on the Mary Celeste”.
Another Government source said quite a few Departments were like ghost towns.
“The local sandwich shops that usually serve Civil Servants are on their knees,” the source said.
Mr Johnson and head of the Public Service, Sir Mark Sedwill had hoped Government workers would set an example to the private sector with many large companies still advising their employees to work at home while the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
However, General Secretary of the FDA Union, Dave Penman warned some Public Servants might never return.
“The Civil Service has already changed for good due to the COVID-19 lockdown,” Mr Penman said.
“The majority of Civil Servants are working successfully from home,” he said.
“Ministers need to recognise this and allow the Civil Service to manage this transition.”
A spokesperson for the Public and Commercial Services Union said the Government was “playing fast and loose” with workers’ safety by asking them to return to the office before the pandemic had been tamed.
Ministers fear the vast majority of officials will refuse to return until a new Cabinet Secretary replaces the outgoing Sir Mark in September and formally requests them to do so.
A Government spokesman said it was consulting closely with employees on ending the default that Civil Servants should work from home, and had ensured workplaces were COVID-secure so that they could return safely.
London, 5 August 2020
