Staff at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are getting ready to cast their votes on whether to strike, following disagreements about working from home.
Around 1,000 staff members from different offices including Edinburgh, London, Manchester and Darlington, who are part of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) will vote in the upcoming weeks on whether or not to go on strike.
The PCS explains that their members have been instructed to come into the office two days a week, whereas they have been able to work from home since lockdown began. Union officials remarked that many employees were already going into the office several days per week, while others took jobs at the ONS on the understanding they could work flexibly from home.
Fran Heathcote, PCS general secretary, said: "Post-pandemic arrangements at ONS have been an example of best practice in flexible and sustainable ways of working, so it's a mystery why managers have changed their minds, especially after having regularly reassured members they could remain working more flexibly."
"No evidence-based business case has been made for their rushed decision a move that has caused anger among staff demoralised by the lack of trust and the need for rapid changes to their childcare and other arrangements."
An ONS spokesperson said: "The ONS has had a hybrid working model for some years now, in line with the wider Civil Service. Face-to-face interaction supports collaboration and fosters learning and innovation, while some tasks can be done as effectively or even more effectively at home."
"We are applying this flexibly to help balance business and personal needs, and have offered all colleagues extensive support."