Public Sector Productivity: Has Working From Home Changed Everything?

The Bench Report

Is working from home helping or hindering the public sector? Join us as we delve into a lively debate in the House of Lords about the impact of remote working on productivity. With public sector productivity still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels, questions are being raised about whether the surge in working from home is a contributing factor.

We explore the government's stance on assessing this impact, the arguments for a comprehensive evaluation, and the pushback highlighting the benefits of flexible working and alignment with private sector trends. Discover the contrasting views on whether remote work boosts or reduces productivity, with mentions of IMF studies suggesting a neutral impact overall, balancing benefits like focused work and reduced commutes against potential drawbacks in collaboration and innovation.

We also examine the Civil Service's policy of a minimum 60% office attendance, the role of trade unions in shaping flexible working arrangements, and the government's focus on public sector reform and innovation. Hear about the challenges of measuring productivity in the public sector and the potential impact of management quality. Plus, we touch upon the benefits of remote work for accessibility and the efficient use of office space.

Key Takeaways:

• Public sector productivity is currently below pre-pandemic levels, raising concerns about efficiency.
• There's ongoing debate about whether working from home is contributing to or detracting from public sector productivity.
• The government acknowledges the need for public service reform but hasn't yet conducted a full assessment of WFH's impact on productivity.
• Studies on the productivity effects of working from home are largely inconclusive, with both potential advantages and disadvantages.
• The Civil Service mandates at least 60% of work to be done in office environments.
• Flexible working arrangements have potential benefits for staff well-being, accessibility for disabled workers, and labour supply.
• Measuring productivity in the public sector is complex, and the government is considering more sophisticated methods.

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Chapters

1. Public Sector Productivity: Has Working From Home Changed Everything? (00:00:00)

2. Productivity drop (00:01:00)

3. Potential downsides of remote working (00:03:29)

4. Benefits of hybrid working (00:03:51)

5. Difficulties in measuring productivity (00:04:16)

6. The role of management (00:05:15)

7. Expectations of civil servants - building 'social capital' (00:06:01)

8. How does this impact public services? HMRC example. (00:08:12)

9. Rural v Urban considerations (00:09:33)

10. Dangers of a 'one size fits all' approach (00:09:58)

11. Conclusions (00:10:52)