Civil and public servants “may be asked on a temporary basis to work in a different role, or even for a different organisation, in order to meet critical work needs,” according to new guidance from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. 

This means redeployment will not be compulsory at this stage. However, given the current circumstances, Fórsa has urged members to co-operate. Union advice published yesterday (Sunday) said: “Fórsa strongly urges members to volunteer if they are able to do so, and to co-operate with requirements arising from such redeployments.”

A number of members have asked the union how they can volunteer for Covid-related redeployment. We’ve advised them to contact their line manager or HR department in the first instance.

Management in various parts of the civil and public service is expected to seek volunteers to redeploy to the HSE to undertake urgent work like contact-tracing and staffing helplines.

The civil service is also likely to seek redeployments into the Department of Employment and Social Protection to deal with an expected increase in workloads there.

This is a fluid situation, and Fórsa is in ongoing contact with DPER. The union will expect engagement with DPER prior to any change in the advice on redeployment.