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Concerns raised over States’ work-from-home policy

Better monitoring of States employees working from home is being called for after it emerged that there are no detailed records kept of employees’ locations or working patterns, including for some who are based outside the island.

Employees are given permission by their line manager to work from home in line with the States’ hybrid working policy, which allows staff to work a ‘flexible fortnight’ with a combination of office and home-based days across that period.
Employees are given permission by their line manager to work from home in line with the States’ hybrid working policy, which allows staff to work a ‘flexible fortnight’ with a combination of office and home-based days across that period. / Guernsey Press

In answer to written questions posed by Deputy Chris Le Tissier, Policy & Resources’ president Lyndon Trott said that there was no central data on the number of employees working from home either full- or part-time. This information is managed locally within service teams.

‘It is deeply concerning that no centralised data exists on something as fundamental as who is working remotely and under what terms,’ said Deputy Le Tissier.

‘We are now several years into this shift in working patterns, and the absence of reliable oversight poses a serious issue in terms of performance, accountability, and public confidence.’

There were 12 States employees based in the UK as of 2024, he was told, but this is expected to reduce to seven this year. All are said to be in technical specialist roles.

While there is no subsidy for internet use or heating for those who work from home, Deputy Le Tissier was told that about £49,000 had been spent by the States since 2022, after the Covid lockdowns, on equipment for remote working, such as desks and monitors.

Employees are given permission by their line manager to work from home in line with the States’ hybrid working policy, which allows staff to work a ‘flexible fortnight’ with a combination of office and home-based days across that period.

Home workers’ productivity is monitored manually by line managers and no tools such as keystroke or video tracking are used.

‘Processes are in place to manage the performance of any employee whose productivity falls short of requirements,’ wrote Deputy Trott.

Deputy Le Tissier said that while flexible working had a place in today’s world of work, it needed to be underpinned by clear oversight, consistent standards and value for money.

‘Without basic data or modern monitoring systems, it is impossible to assess whether these arrangements are truly delivering,’ he said.

He added that the public was right to expect that someone was accountable the performance of any staff working from home, particularly if they were off-island. It was also important that costs were controlled and services not compromised.

He said he would consider bringing forward proposals to strengthen policy and data standards in relation to remote working in the public sector.

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