The Irish Government has announced a plan to allow many Public Servants to apply for a minimum of 20 per cent remote working.
The Blended Working Framework is to allow employees to request remote working arrangements and seek a review if their application is refused.
However, access to blended working isn’t to be an automatic entitlement, regardless of any previous remote working arrangement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The framework relates to 40 Departments and Agencies and around 40,000 workers.
It states that, in general, no employee should work 100 per cent remotely.
Launching the plan, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath said he hoped it would eventually become a template for the remainder of the Public Service.
“Having considered the lessons learnt from remote working during the pandemic, there have been many benefits, challenges and opportunities identified,” Mr McGrath said.
“The Civil Service must strive for an optimal balance, where employees who work remotely do so on a blended basis in order to allow for face-to-face interaction and collaboration with colleagues,” he said.
The largest public sector union, Fórsa, which was involved in negotiations on the framework, welcomed the plan.
“As the biggest employer in the State, the Public Service must take a leading role in making remote and blended work part of post-COVID working life,” Fórsa said in a statement.
Mr McGrath said he did not believe public services would be adversely affected by the change.
“We have been hugely impressed with the commitment of our Civil Servants. They have maintained their high quality of service to the general public in difficult and challenging circumstances,” he said.
The scheme won’t be open to workers who have “public-facing” roles.
Dublin, 2 April 2022
