We crowdsourced over 60 detailed responses on the issue of remote working and are presenting a varied small selection of responses from civil service members here. It's clear that remote work is a key concern for Fórsa members, and we will be featuring it in the next issue of the Civil Service Quarterly. Names have been changed to protect members. 

“The introduction of remote working has massively benefited me, my family and friends. It reduces carbon emissions, reduces congestion, reduces the stress and burden of unnecessary commutes, and improves social wellbeing and work life balances by increasing time for family care, cooking, and exercise!” - Deborah 

“Being able to work remotely meant I was finally able to afford to purchase my first home. I re-located outside of Dublin. I know of many colleagues who were able to afford housing further afield thanks to remote working. During the pandemic, when most workers were fully remote, the reduction in traffic on the roads was notable so environmentally, it's a no-brainer. Remote working has changed my life for the better in so many ways.” - Carol 

“We must demonstrate to management that we're prepared to fight, otherwise, compliance will be interpreted as acceptance, and they'll feel emboldened to implement detrimental changes.  Waiting until after the decision is made weakens our position. This isn't about being militant, but about ensuring our voices are heard.  A passive approach guarantees an unfavourable outcome.” - Jabari     

"Working from home changed my life. Not only was I getting more work done but now that I wasn’t commuting, I had much more time with my children and for myself.  I understand there are challenges to overcome when it comes to training and engaging with new staff members, but I believe these challenges can be met without bringing everyone back into the office and returning to old routines.” - Susan                                                        

“Remote working has given me the opportunity to balance work and caring for my elderly mother and my brother with special needs who live nearby. I can do my work and be nearby in the event of an emergency or just be able to check in during my lunch break and after work. This kind of reassurance that someone is available is invaluable to my elderly mother.” - Roisin 

“The office environment can be useful for collaboration and social contact, but it can also be a messy place with extra jobs being thrown your way when you're trying to finish your own work, or other colleagues' work issues affecting your productivity, or personality clashes affecting things. The double-edged sword of the office environment makes it even more imperative to continue blended working as, in my opinion, it benefits the employee and the employer in terms of the well-being of the employee and the resultant improvement in productivity." - Eoin 

“I have a vision impairment. Working from home allows people with disabilities to fully engage with the workplace. If remote work is removed, this would make my life more difficult.” - Sharon 

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.