WFH has crippled public services. Its time civil servants went back to work – Dame Andrea Jenkyns

To many, me included, Trump’s Presidency offers hope that common sense will now return to politics, and we may see a move away from the globalist agenda of most Western leaders, and a return to the nation state and putting our own peoples interests as a priority.

One of the policies that the President signed off was a ‘Return to In-Person Work’ of the civil service. This is one thing I certainly do hope catches on in Britain.

I remember one occasion when I was the Northern Ireland Government Whip, and the Secretary of State at the time, Brandon Lewis, was challenging the senior civil servant about how they were one of the departments with the highest number of people working from home.

It was a heated exchange, and I sided with Brandon. As a Minister, I also witnessed this myself with my private office staff.

I was expecting to see my team in our morning meeting, but at least two had decided to work from home that morning.

I was the last to know because as a Minister you do not manage the team, that is the department director’s remit.

The very casual nature of deciding at last minute to not venture into work and be with actual human beings in person, but instead to engage via Microsoft teams, is a common occurrence in the civil service.

Remote working in the public sector, introduced during the pandemic, was at the time a practical response to an unprecedented global crisis.

But in the long term, it has become a problem. Across the public services—from local councils to government departments— struggle to deliver efficiently under widespread home-working arrangements.

Public services exist to serve the community, not as a job creation scheme, and taxpayers deserve value for their money.

This manifests as a frequent lack of staff availability to answer queries on issues from housing benefits to potholes. Fridays are a notoriously challenging time.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) recently reported that public sector productivity has been at its lowest since 1997.

Gains made in the 2010s have been wiped out, and sectors like healthcare are underperforming at a time when they are needed most.

In the civil service, some offices operate at less than 10% capacity, with many staff working from home full-time. This lack of physical presence has led to a decline in efficiency and an erosion of accountability.

Looking at Lincolnshire County Council, their balance between remote and office work has tipped too far. The council’s stated goal of a 50:50 split has turned into a massive 75% home working for many staff.

This imbalance hinders collaboration, reduces visibility, and slows service delivery—all at the taxpayer’s expense.

The public sector is funded by hardworking taxpayers who expect their money to be used effectively, and we must never lose sight of this.

Remote work also dilutes accountability. In an office, supervision and collaboration are natural. Issues are spotted early, problems are solved quickly, and employees are more engaged.

At home, there’s a lack of oversight. While many employees perform admirably, others struggle with distractions or reduced productivity.

Taxpayers cannot afford a system that allows for uneven performance when public services are already stretched. Public services are not private businesses—they are essential for society’s functioning.

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But unlike private companies, public sector inefficiencies are paid for by the taxpayer. When services falter, the public suffers.

Government and local councils must remember their responsibility to the communities they serve. The British taxpayers deserve more than hollow promises of “flexibility.”

They deserve a public sector that delivers results efficiently and effectively. Returning to the office is necessary to rebuild trust, improve accountability, and ensure that public services serve their intended purpose: providing for the public.

Remote work in the public sector has overstayed its welcome. The evidence is clear: it’s slowing productivity, eroding accountability, and failing to deliver taxpayer value.

Public services exist to serve the public, not to cater to the preferences of their employees. It’s time for a renewed focus on service delivery—and that starts with bringing public sector employees back to the office at every level of government.

So, well done Mr. President, Public Services are not optional. Its time to get them back into the office!