Dino Sofos

A union boss is to urge Boris Johnson to stop " micro-managing" civil servants, as the government pushes to end a working-from-home culture.

FDA General Secretary Dave Penman will accuse the Prime Minister of " going to war" with those delivering his agenda.

Mr Johnson has backed demands for civil servants to return to The Office after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.

Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has said all civil servants must stop working from home.

The Minister has been criticised for leaving civil servants a note, which said " sorry you were out when I visited".

The Note , printed on government paper with Mr Rees-Mogg's title, was left at empty desks and read " I look forward to seeing you in The Office very soon".

At the FDA union's annual conference on Thursday, Mr Penman is expected to rebuke Mr Rees-Mogg for his " crass, condescending, passive-aggressive little notes for people who were actually delivering vital public services".

In a speech, Mr Penman will say the FDA, which represents senior staff in the Civil Service , will " always be the pragmatic, constructive partner that employers should want to work with".

But, he will add, it is hard to imagine a Time In the FDA's 100-year history when The Union has been needed more by civil servants.

In a message for the Prime Minister , Mr Penman will say: " You say you want a brilliant Civil Service and you want to attract the brightest and best to join it.

" Well, this is not The Way to go about it.

" Challenge us to deliver, be clear about your priorities, but step back and let those whose job it is to run The Service get on with it.

" No more micro-managing, no more anonymous briefings. You do your job and let the management of the Civil Service get on with theirs. "

, after being re-introduced in The Face of the emergence of the Omicron variant Last Year .

In April, civil servants were told they must stop working from home and return to The Office to ensure government buildings are at full capacity.

At a cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister encouraged ministers and their departments to do " everything possible to speed up The Return of more civil servants into The Office " his official spokesperson said.

Mr Rees-Mogg wrote to cabinet colleagues urging them to send a " clear message" to the Civil Service about returning.

He also sent a league table of daily Civil Service office attendance from the week beginning on 4 April. It showed in some departments daily average of staff in the workplace was lower than a third.

But the FDA union has said Mr Rees-Mogg's approach to working arrangements were out of step with practice in the Private Sector .

In his speech, Mr Penman will say private industry has embraced the " Quiet Revolution " in working practices over The Past two years, delivering efficiencies for employers and greater flexibility for employees.

Meanwhile, Mr Rees-Mogg has been " wandering around Whitehall with his clip board and his clicker counting people at desks" Mr Penman will say.

He will add: " It's like he doesn't understand that the majority of civil servants are outside of the M25.

" Tens of thousands of civil servants in those famous red wall seats, all being told to forget about flexible working. "

Source of news: bbc.com