GoogleWelsh government “If people do not work in them, they cannot justify to continue to work”, first minister Elund Morgan has warned.
The goal of the ministers aims to work from the office of two days or 40% time a week, but on an average of 16% in the presence of the daily office in March, and the “main hub” in the Merthiir Tidfil had just 9% in the “main hub”.
Morgan stated that the Welsh government has about 5,700 employees that are spread over 20 sites, and reviewing the office requirements in the power “because of the change in the way people work partially”, Morgan said.
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said, “We have no reason to believe that the current arrangements are not working”.
The 15 “core offices” include the main center of the Cathase Park in Cardif, Ride-Y-car in the Merheer Tidfil, Roadfa Padran in Abstin, Ceredigian, and Saran Mainach in Lundudano Junction, Convi County.
According to the latest data, their ongoing cost is £ 24.5m.
The Welsh government stated that another five offices and campus are located in Wales, “to ensure a scattered appearance, and to ensure that services can be distributed to meet the needs of services”.
It said “Most of the employees continued to work from far away during 2023-2024. The evidence is that a high ratio is regularly doing”.
Welsh governmentIndependent Ms. Russell George expressed concern about the future of the office in Newtown, Power in Sendd last week.
The office had an average average daily percentage attendance of 22% – 17 employees in March.
He said it was important to have government offices in Wales “because they support shops and services in the office and working employees there as well”.
He said: “It is important to provide employment to people living in Mid Wales to make the needs and needs of all people from all communities in Wales more reflective.”
Morgan replied: “We are doing a review at the moment, partly due to the change in the way people work.
“It is important that we encourage people to come to work. We are encouraging them to come in.
“But, clearly, a point will come where you have to say that ‘if you don’t turn, we cannot justify keeping this particular office open.”
Review of Powys offices in Llandrindod Wells and Newtown, will be completed by the end of September.
Other offices in March include attendance:
- Catties Park, Cardiff – 19% (576 employees)
- Carernarfon, GwynedD – 17% (17)
- Aberystwyth, Credigion – 15% (42)
- Llandrindod Wales, Pavs – 12% (13)
- Llandudno Junction, Conwy – 12% (49)
- Pengerger, Swanasi – 10% (34)
- Carmertation – 10% (33)
- Merthiir Tidfil – 9% (55)
The average daily appearance in January and February was 15%.
The latest state of the Welsh government’s estate report for 2023-24 published in May, said it “back back in a year, where our offices stayed in less quarry as employees continued to work from a distance.”
“It is being addressed by the ongoing increase in the amount of places allotted to public sector tenants.
“Our more places are being used as a public sector hub, while Welsh government employees adopt a hybrid model of working.”
It continues, “Employees need to spread to Wales opportunities to close the front office, although the options of ‘correct size’ are actively considered through business matters, investment evaluation and consultation with employees and trade unions, such as the expiration of the brake close or lease, RESE”.
It cites the example of the office at Groswner Road, Wrexham, which was evacuated when its lease ended in January 2024, also transferred employees to a small, single unit in Wrexham.
The report also stated that Picton Terrace, an empty office block in the carroup, was surplus for the requirements and being marketed, and “uncertainty about long -term working patterns has been the remaining factor in this office location”.
The report states “as distant working practices become more embedded, it is estimated that the nature of the office property will change further and more opportunities will arise for capacity”.
Other public bodies provided office space since Kovid epidemic include Welsh Language Commissioner and Food Standards Agency.
Public and Commercial Services Union General Secretary Fran Heathkot told the BBC, “The current mixed work system in the Welsh government has been developed with the unions through working in social partnership, and we have no reason to believe that the current arrangements are not working.
“At such a time they are ready for review, this will be done through social partnership with Welsh government and recognized trade unions.”
FDA National Officer Jane Runals said: “The work is what you do, not where you do it.
“The world of work has changed, and the Welsh government should be proud of the fact that it has played a leading role in it.”
He added a sensible approach to hybrid work, they will “recruit and maintain the most bright and best”.
