“*FOI Request: Submission leading to requirement of departments to introduce sixty per cent minimum weekly office attendance. You are likely to be aware of numerous media reports about the Cabinet Office requiring departments to introduce a policy of minimum staff attendance into the office of 60 per cent. Could you tell me whether the Cabinet Office has in its possession a report/submission with this requirement as a recommendation? If so and now that the policy decision appears to have been made, would you please disclose the report/submission to me?”
“the Commissioner takes the approach that if the opinion is in accordance with reason and not irrational or absurd – in short, if it is an opinion that a reasonable person could hold – then it is reasonable. This is not the same as saying that it is the only reasonable opinion that could be held the matter. The qualified person’s opinion is not rendered unreasonable simply because other people may have come to a different (and equally reasonable) conclusion. It is not reasonable if it is an opinion that no reasonable person in the qualified person’s position could hold. Nor does the qualified person’s opinion have to be the most reasonable opinion that could be held; it only has to be a reasonable opinion.”
“We consider that officials must be able to provide advice and exchange views regarding sensitive information throughout the process of developing major operational policy, in circumstances where they can feel assured that such advice, views and comments will not be prematurely disclosed into the public domain. It was also vital for officials and Ministers to have the benefit of this space during the drafting of the policies and we consider that those directing future operational change must also have its benefit to ensure that civil service operations in the future are not undermined. Those involved in the policy development and the drafting of its final proposals must be able to express themselves openly, honestly and completely at all times when providing advice or giving their views. They must have the freedom to explore options which may be considered radical or unpopular without concern that those exploratory views will be disclosed prematurely. At the time of the request, the information was particularly recent (being only a few months old), making it particularly sensitive. Indeed, the information remains sensitive for the ongoing management of operations and estates.”
“We have all had to work differently over the last few years. Many have been in the workplace all of that time and others have worked flexibly. The Civil Service, like most organisations, is continuing to explore and take stock of what the most effective place is for us to be working”. “As we look across a range of other employers in all sectors, we are seeing a trend of workplaces reviewing their balance of office working to drive better benefits for both the employer and employees. A minimum balance of 60% for most in the office will help us retain both the benefits of office working and flexibility. We continue to support and recognise that some colleagues will have specific needs and adjustments.”
“I believe that disclosure of the information at the time of the request would have distracted officials and Ministers from the necessary co-ordination around both announcements and implementation plans and clarity in communications. It was very important that departments were able to plan the timing and communication of the announcement for their own departments and also to engage with their departmental trade unions. Departmental control over the timing and content were very important at the time the request was received. The need to co-ordinate this to ensure that staff were finding out through the proper channels and that senior officials and Ministers could rely upon that happening was an important part of the engagement approach. Losing control of the messaging and planned cascade would have put the Civil Service as a whole in a very reactive position. Perhaps of most importance is the need for the timing of departmental announcements to be decided by them using their judgement and prepare for additional messaging. Getting this right was very important for employee engagement.”