Ireland’s main Public Service union, Fórsa, has repeated claims that some heads of Departments are flouting COVID-19 rules and requiring staff to work in the office.
In a statement, Fórsa said far too many Public Servants were being required to travel to work to perform roles that could and should be done remotely as the pandemic surged.
It said the tone of guidelines issued to public bodies resulted in “macho-management” which “fails to put public safety first by properly distinguishing between those who need to be in the workplace right now and those who don’t”.
Fórsa said it believed staff and service-users were being unnecessarily exposed to potentially virus-spreading interactions in workplaces and on public transport which would likely impede efforts to contain the disease.
It said the national effort could be undermined by the failure of management to properly identify which workers needed to be present to undertake essential functions during the pandemic.
A spokesperson for the Department of Social Protection said the services it provided were essential and it would continue to deliver them during the pandemic.
“We are doing all we can to minimise the necessity for staff to attend their offices or engage directly with clients subject to continuing to provide our services,” the spokesperson said.
They said the Department had promoted online services and video and telephone contacts as well as restricting walk-in opening hours at its centres.
“However, some clients have addiction issues, are homeless or have poor literacy and numeracy skills and depend on these walk-in centres,” the spokesperson said.
Dublin, 14 January 2021
