£50,000 has been spent over the past three years buying computer monitors and other equipment so States workers can work from home, or elsewhere, rather than in an office.
The States ‘Hybrid Working Policy’ was introduced in 2022, giving civil servants the opportunity to request working from home or elsewhere – but the States don’t know how many people use it.
The policy was brought in under plans to rationalise the States estate, helping to free up space in the two main staff hubs (Sir Charles Frossard House, and Edward T Wheadon House).
Election candidate, Deputy Chris Le Tissier recently asked some questions about how the policy works and how much it costs.
He was told that the States don’t collate data on the number of people working from home or elsewhere under the policy.
Deputy Le Tissier was told that “the majority of public service roles are not suitable for remote/home working” but of those staff who are able to work from home, the privilege can be revoked or amended by their line manager.
A States spokesperson said service area managers are in charge of their staff’s working patterns, with the policy including a ‘flexible fortnight’ based on a combination of office-based days and working from home/remote days.
To enable staff to manage a hybrid working fortnight, they are given IT equipment to manage themselves.
The States confirmed to Deputy Le Tissier that since 2022, £49,373.70 has been spent on hybrid working equipment including the upfront purchase of 250 monitors.
Those staff who are working from home don’t receive any other benefits through financial subsidies.
It’s also been confirmed that the Hybrid Working Policy has not led to a huge increase in the number of off-island workers being employed by the States.
Currently there are 12, out of a total civil service workforce in the thousands.
A spokesperson said the “majority of people conducting work for the States of Guernsey from a base outside of the island are usually on alternative arrangements (e.g. a consultancy arrangement or a casual worker arrangement) and as such are not States of Guernsey employees.
“There are a small number of States of Guernsey employees (12) who are based in the UK but attend meetings on island etc. This number is due to reduce to 7 by October of this year and includes technical specialist roles.”
