UNITED KINGDOM
Picture: Civil Service World
A new plan to “refresh” guidance on UK Public Service flexible working opportunities has been launched.
Chief People Officer, Rupert McNeil (pictured) said the move came against the backdrop of wider work led by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to promote flexible working across the whole economy.
He said flexible working had “an important role to play” in delivering the Public Service’s commitment to become the UK’s most inclusive employer by 2020.
“It also has recognised benefits in improving work–life balance for staff as well as enabling parents and carers to combine work with their other responsibilities,” Mr McNeil said.
“To further help job applicants, we are preparing a new page for the GOV.UK website setting out our approach to flexible working.”
He said there would be new guidance linked to vacancies on the refreshed Public Service jobs site, as well as a clearer menu of options, so applicants knew the types of flexible work available for each advertised post.
Mr McNeil also detailed other initiatives aimed at highlighting flexible working opportunities, including the Civil Service Returners Program, which provides short-term opportunities for people looking to return to work after a career break.
Secretary for the Environment, Michael Gove came under fire from one Public Service union last year for reportedly blasting flexible working in his own Department.
A Cabinet source told a newspaper at the time that Mr Gove had “gone on a rant” saying that some PS staff were stopping work on Wednesday afternoons if they had already worked 37 hours.
He was apparently slapped down by Prime Minister, Theresa May, who said the Government supported flexible working arrangements.
London, 24 January 2019
