The general secretary of Fórsa, has welcomed today’s (Thursday’s) publication of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council’s (NCPC) bulletin on the competitiveness implications of increased remote working.
Kevin Callinan, who is also a member of the NCPC and a Vice President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), said its conclusions pointed to a potential productivity boost for Ireland if remote working is embraced and well-managed at national and organisational levels.
The NCPP bulletin says enterprises could benefit from remote working arrangements by gaining access to a broader pool of talent, promoting retention, and improving cost-effectiveness while engaging in more sustainable ways of working. Citing both opportunities and challenges for employers, it references a number of studies that identify the potential for increasing productivity through remote or ‘blended’ working.
Kevin said the reports conclusions pointed to a potential productivity boost for Ireland if remote working is embraced and well-managed at national and organisational levels.
Mr Callinan said his union supported State plans for a legal right for employees to request remote working, and called on the Government show a lead by negotiating comprehensive guidelines on remote working for application across the civil and public service.
“The Covid experience has removed a ‘trust’ barrier to remote working because studies show it’s delivered stable or improved productivity, while generally working for staff too. Remote and blended working will continue to be a major feature of work organisation across the globe. Nations and businesses that fail to embrace it will be left behind in the race for talent and investment. Ireland needs to be at the forefront and, as Ireland’s largest single employer, our Government must give a lead while continuing to support workers and businesses in the transition,” he said.
The Covid experience has removed a ‘trust’ barrier to remote working because studies show it’s delivered stable or improved productivity, while generally working for staff too.
Last month, Mr Callinan wrote to public expenditure minister Michael McGrath seeking engagement with Fórsa on its claim designed “to reach agreement on a clear and consistent public service approach to remote working, based on principles of fair access, adequate employee protections, and robust measures to underpin continued public service quality and productivity.”
The union wants discussions to take place under the auspices of the new public service agreement, Building Momentum, which commits management and unions to establish the public service as a “driver of best practice” on remote work.