Redcar and Cleveland Council has adopted a blended working approach for staff following the relaxation of remaining Covid-19 (Coronavirus) restrictions in England.
The working model will be introduced as a result of 55% of the council’s more than 2,000 staff continuing to work from home for at least some of the time. It will enable more flexible, technology-enabled teams who can work efficiently to deliver services, while also improving their work-life balance.
The council published a report that set out the proposed new way of working policy, which stated that it was possible to work effectively while making greater use of technology, and that staff were keen to explore a less office-focused model.
According to the council, the aim of this is to have a default position where most office-based staff will be able to also operate from home at times if they wish, or can combine the two. However, it recognised that this might not work for everyone, and arrangements for blended working would be agreed after considering both the needs of the organisation and the employee.
A council spokesperson said: “Taking into account feedback from staff and through discussion with managers, it is considered in general terms that no current or anticipated roles are likely to be suitable for full-time, permanent home working. A blended approach will be most effective, providing a balance between office-based and home or remote working arrangements, thereby securing the best of both worlds.”
The report, which is expected to be signed off by the council’s employee and health and safety committee before going for final cabinet approval, raised the prospect of some offices closing in the future. It stated that, depending on how these arrangements progress, there may also be scope to make savings via rationalisation of office accommodation.
