NSW public service revolt against Premier’s back-to-office edict

Premier Chris Minns has responded after his uncle - a senior public servant - appeared to reject the Premier’s return to the office mandate.

Premier Chris Minns has responded after his uncle sent an email to government staff saying the Premier’s mandate would not change working from home arrangements for department staff.

A revolt among public servants over an order from Mr Minns for them to return back to the office has their bosses, including the Premier’s uncle - a senior executive in the state’s health department - scrambling to calm staff, with one department boss telling workers to “please continue as usual”.

But Mr Minns has cleared up the apparent miscommunication between him and his uncle, claiming that his uncle was referring to existing WFH arrangements that were in place long before the Covid pandemic.

The Daily Telegraph revealed NSW public servants would be ordered to come back to the office from Tuesday after the Minns government sent a government-wide memorandum to all departments on Monday, advising working from home privileges had come to an end.

The move has triggered an outcry among staff, forcing some departmental heads to reassure workers that the changes would not be imminent.

In an email sent to NSW Health staff on Monday afternoon and seen by this masthead, deputy secretary of people, culture and governance, Phil Minns told staff the Premier’s mandate would not change working from home arrangements for department staff.

“We’ve been texting but look, the truth is Ben, that this is government-wide, 95 per cent of the health workforce are actually in hospitals and can’t work from home but across NSW this needs to be implemented for the public service in the state,” the Premier told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Wednesday morning.

He said showing your face in the office is important for “culture” and “mentoring young people”, before clarifying what Phil said in his letter to staff.

“I know not everyone is happy with this change but it’s important for having a public service that responds to the taxpayers of the state,” he said to Fordham.

“All I can say is I think Phil is referring to the existing arrangements that have been negotiated between the union and government for decades so that might be job sharing arrangements, early departure times to pick up the kids, but that’s not related to the Covid measures.

“The WFH Covid measures and the changes the government announced as of Monday apply to the provisions that were brought in during a health crisis which obviously no longer apply.”

He also made light of the mix-up, calling Phil a “good uncle.”

“The changes are across the public service and we believe they’re important,” he said on 2GB.

“He’s a good man, he’s a committed public servant and he’s a good uncle.”

Phil Minns, NSW Health Deputy Secretary People, culture and governance sent an email to staff reassuring flexible work arrangements were still available.

Premier Chris Minns ordered public servants back into the office ‘effective immediately’ — on Monday. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

In his letter to staff, Phil Minns wrote “the updated advice does not mandate any particular pattern of attendance, but it is a starting position that work is principally done in an approved workplace in NSW.”

“Please note the availability of flexible work arrangements are not changed by this Circular.

“In line with most contemporary workplaces, we recognise flexible arrangements help attract and retain talented people, particularly with career responsibilities and other commitments outside of work,” the email said.

Excerpts from the email sent by Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray to Transport for NSW staffers. Pictures: Supplied/News Corp

“We value the diversity of our workforce and recognise the benefits of flexibility, while also urging us to maintain an inclusive workforce.”

A NSW government spokesperson said the communications sent by Mr Minns to NSW Health staff only referred employees to the updates Premier’s Department Memorandum.

“NSW Health will implement the new memorandum like all NSW Government agencies,” the spokesperson said.

“Staff have been advised of the new memorandum.

“Work is underway to implement the memorandum and ensure NSW Health policies align with it.”

BUSINESS AS USUAL

Staff from Transport department were also told it would be business as usual.

An email sent by Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray to staff shortly before 11am this morning stated how a working group would be established to “examine the new requirements”.

In the meantime, staff should continue with their hybrid arrangements, he said.

Mr Murray said while the NSW Premier’s Department memo had declared that government sector employees should work principally in “an approved office, workplace or related work site”, Transport for NSW would be adapting its own policies to align with the circular “and fit the diverse work and workplaces we need at Transport”.

“We value out people who work in many different locations and environments across NSW and will continue to support flexible work arrangements in line wit the policies and circular,” Mr Murray said.

“If you’re a frontline worker, this will have little to no impact on how you work.

“For our people currently hybrid working, please continue as usual while we examine the new requirements via the working group.”

Mr Murray in statement released later on Tuesday said TfNSW was committed to implementing the changes.

“It is natural that staff will have questions and a working group will consider the feedback from Transport’s diverse and geographically dispersed employees to help implement this change within our agency,” he said.

The correspondence from Health and Transport department heads put the top bureaucrats at odds with the Premier who this morning reiterated that it was mandatory for public servants to return to the office.

In a warning to recalcitrant public service agencies who have facilitated full time working from home arrangements, Mr Minns said they would be forced to comply with the new rules.

“It’s a mandatory circular. This is from the Premier’s department. This is this will apply across the public service in NSW, so I’m confident that we will change it and that we’ll get people back in,” he said.