Fórsa has sought that individual assessment of roles and staff rather than a blanket restriction on blended working in certain areas is implemented.

The union has said there are members in certain back-office functions who have a proven track record of working from home and who have recently had their remote working days reduced for blended working in 2023.

Access to blended working varies from one to four days across the Department of Social Protection (DSP) depending on whether the function is back office or customer facing.

Fórsa says 61% of DSP staff have been approved for blended working with 1% denied.

Of the 4,241 staff carrying out blended working 987 are working remotely one day per week, 1260 two days per week, 1015 three days per week and 973 working remotely four days per week.

A small number of staff are working 5 days per week remotely on the basis of reasonable accommodation.

The union has said individual assessments of roles and staff will provide greater fairness and equality in rolling out the system, rather than implementing fixed restrictions on numbers that can access the scheme.

Fórsa also welcomed the news that the blanket restriction on blended working available to the union’s members in Community Welfare Service will be reviewed in the near future.

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