Whitehall lawyers working from home have spent around £4 million of taxpayers' money on new laptops, tablet computers and mobile phones, new figures show.
The Government Department of Justice (GLD) will be purchasing thousands of remote working devices for its staff starting in 2021, including 560 mobile phones, 2,135 new laptops and 10 tablet computers, according to data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. It is said that he purchased it.
The figures, requested by Griffin Law, come as ministers are calling for at least 60% of Whitehall staff to return to the office (three days a week for full-time staff) amid concerns that working from home will reduce productivity. This became clear as they continued their struggle.
GLD, which opened an office in Manchester late last year, is the government's main legal adviser, with around 2,500 lawyers working on government policy.
Like many prominent sectors, there has been an ongoing battle over office work since the pandemic, arguing that remote working is a necessary perk given the lower salaries on offer compared to the private sector. There are some people.
In 2021, the Law Gazette reported that GLD employees hit back at bosses over low pay and morale, saying, “Why send employees to the office when so many of our citizens are happier, healthier and more productive at home?'' “Are you desperately trying to get it back to normal?” he reportedly asked. .
Earlier this month, it was revealed that civil servants at Britain's official statistics agency had threatened to go on strike after being asked to work two days a week.
The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) trade union, which is spearheading the industrial action push, said that while many workers were coming “several days a week anyway”, they were “not working at the Office for National Statistics because they were promised”. “Some workers will only accept jobs in 2020.” Flexibility of working from home. ”
But critics argue that working from home reduces productivity and impacts public services. Donal Blaney, the founder of the Griffin Act, argued that civil servants are “milking out of the government's overly generous remote working policies”.
“It is a beggarly idea that the authorities are spending millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to fund flexible working for lawyers,” he argued.
At the time of writing, GLD had not responded to a request for comment.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph for free for 3 months. Get unlimited access to award-winning websites, exclusive apps, savings and more.
