Hundreds of Bolton Council workers who have partially worked at home since March 2020 will be expected to spend the majority of time at the office under a new ‘hybrid’ working scheme.
Bolton Council has published details of their proposed new agile and hybrid working scheme which will affect many of their staff. The report revealed that 65 per cent of the workforce remained in the workplace throughout the pandemic, with the remainder working remotely for various periods when restrictions were in place.
Council offices remained open throughout with the report saying ‘this unprecedented period resulted in all services adapting to ensure sure residents and customers continued to receive good quality services’. Under the hybrid working scheme many staff are set to continue partially working from home for the foreseeable future but will spend more than half their working hours at the office or workplace.
A Bolton Council scrutiny committee meeting heard from chief executive Sue Johnson.
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She said: “It is not a right to work in a hybrid way.
“All requests must be agreed with a manager and arrangements can be changed at short notice. All staff are required to attend team meetings and development and coaching sessions in person.
“If we see a drop in productivity or service from an individual or team then the decision will be made for them to return to the office. Staff will be required to attend the workplace for the majority of their working hours.”
She said the concept of hybrid working remained under constant review and a staff survey had been undertaken with the majority of staff indicating that they want some form of hybrid working. The report said the effectiveness of hybrid arrangements should be reviewed annually, as a minimum.
The report said the new hybrid working policy and associated guidance and training for managers had been developed and subject to approval by the council’s cabinet it would be implemented from January 1, 2023.
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