CIVIL servants have been told by the Home Secretary to embrace their “tribal” instinct by spending more time in the office.
Cabinet Minister James Cleverly told mandarins human beings are like animals who have thrived on interaction for thousands of years
James Cleverly drew on centuries of human evolution to bolster his argument[/caption]
He intervened in the ‘work from home’ row at an-all staff meeting at the Home Office on Monday.
A survey of PCS union members across all government departments published at the end of last year showed 60% were considering quitting their jobs if they were forced to return to the office three days a week amid pressure from ministers.
Civil servants were previously encouraged, rather than compelled, to work from the office for at least two or three days a week after lockdown rules were lifted in 2022.
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But advice issued in November 2023 said all Whitehall staff must now spend 60 percent of their working time “face to face” in the office.
Whitehall sources told the Sun Mr Cleverly was asked about the new advice during the Home Office meeting.
He is understood to have said: “Human beings are tribal animals that have for millennia thrived on interaction with each other and that is not likely to change. And that he thinks people benefit from being around each other more.”
A source close to the Home Secretary said Mr Cleverly is not anti remote working but has “a clear view of the real benefits of face-to-face working”.
