Fórsa has learned that some local authorities are tabling blended work policies with remote work restricted to two days a week. This is despite confirmation from the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), which represents council employers, that it has not issued an instruction to restrict blended work.

The news comes on foot of agreement on a Fórsa-negotiated blended work framework, which gives workers the right to apply for remote or blended working. It doesn’t guarantee blended work arrangements for all who apply, but workers will be able to have the decision reviewed if they are turned down, with a view to resolving the issues that led to the refusal to facilitate remote work.

The head of the union’s Local Government Division, Richy Carrothers, said Fórsa was seeking an urgent meeting on blended work issues.

“We are aware that some local authorities are tabling two days on the blended working policy. There had been no indications previously from the management side that this was the prevailing view. The application of blended working is subject to local consultation. We are seeking to have the Local Authority National Council reconvened to specifically to deal with this,” he said.

The union said management support for blended working would be needed to ensure the success of this new way of working by championing and demonstrating a culture of flexibility, agility, trust and innovation in this new way of working.

The framework also places a responsibility on managers to ensure a “fair and effective” system with strong supports, staff development, communications, and effective performance management. And it says there can be no change to a worker’s pay and working conditions on the basis that they have blended working arrangements.

Richy urged branches to continue to seek to progress the implementation of blended working in each local authority, in line with the agreed framework.  “Fórsa officials will continue to update the national local government and local services office in order to ensure that we map the national picture,” he said.