Council staff have been relaxing at home “in their tracksuits” rather than helping residents from their desks, a councillor has suggested – in comments branded “outrageous”.
Cllr Jackie Rance asked Wokingham Borough Council leaders if they planned to make staff return to full-time office working at a full council meeting on Thursday, September 22.
The Conservative said: “Covid has been and gone, but the Liberal Democrats of Wokingham Borough Council clearly believe in allowing their employees to swap the office for their lounges at home.
“The public sector’s most important role should be delivering effective services for the taxpayer, not helping workers to have more leisure time.”
She added: “When will all Council staff be back at their office desks serving residents, rather than enjoying a relaxed home atmosphere?”
But Liberal Democrat councillor Rachel Bishop-Firth – responsible for council staff – got loud applause for standing up for council staff.
She said: “This has to be one of the most outrageous questions ever put to an executive member of this council” and urged councillor Rance to “apologise for the unwarranted and utterly unsubstantiated slurs you’ve made against our hard-working officers”.
The councillor added that home and hybrid working meant the authority could save money, help fight climate change by reducing commuting, and allowing a wider number of highly qualified staff to apply for jobs at the council.
Cllr Rance replied: “Of course I know officers work hard at home,” and asked how the council could support staff who prefer to work in the office.
