Staff at Norfolk County Council have been ordered back to their desks at County Hall amid mounting scrutiny of the authority's widespread working from home policies.
Members of the largest department, adult social care, have been told they are now expected to work face-to-face with colleagues at least twice a week, either at the Martineau Lane HQ or other community spaces.
Reform UK, which runs the authority, has been critical of working from home policies in the public sector and had ordered a review of arrangements at Norfolk County Council, where the practice has been widespread among the 7,000-plus workforce since the Covid pandemic.
The new diktat comes before the conclusion of that review and other departments may now follow suit.
Scott Hussey, Reform cabinet member for adult social care and public health, welcomed the decision.
"It will help to improve outcomes for the people we serve by encouraging more face-to-face collaboration, communication and learning," he added.
Ian Wake, director of adult social services, informed his team of the decision by email and provided them with a Q&A document which outlines why it was made.
The document states: "The expectation is that colleagues spend at least two days per week working face-to-face in an office or community setting while continuing to work flexibly where appropriate.
"The evidence base clearly demonstrates that home working can increase productivity where colleagues need to complete tasks requiring solitary focus, whilst relational face-to-face working increases productivity for tasks requiring collaboration, discussion, and creativity.
"Many people find they can complete focused tasks effectively at home.
"However, our work also depends on collaboration, learning, relationship-building and supporting colleagues.
"Relational practice cannot be delivered as effectively over MS Teams compared to face-face working."
Staff were told such face-to-face working could take place at council offices, libraries and other community venues.
With three of the 10 floors at County Hall now rented out to the NHS, staff who want to head there were urged to book desks in advance to ensure there is room for them.
A council spokesman said the change was not a result of Reform's review, but was a "service specific decision" within adult social services, although there is speculation other departments could follow suit.
The spokesman said: "The aim is to support more relational practice by creating opportunities for colleagues to work together, learn from one another and build stronger connections with teams, partners and communities.
"Adult social services staff can work from a range of council and partner locations across Norfolk, including offices, community hubs and other approved settings, depending on the nature of their work and local availability.
"The intention is not for everyone to attend a single location, but to make greater use of the wider estate and community-based working opportunities available across the county."
Last month, council officials admitted they did not know how many staff worked from home, while Mr Hussey this week criticised how many have been granted permission to work from abroad.
But Brian Watkins, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, said Reform were "stirring things up unnecessarily".
He said: "Reform's approach can only increase unrest and disquiet among staff, which could lead to more of them heading for the County Hall exit door.
"If staff are managed properly and their performance managed adequately, it shouldn't make a difference where they work."
Maxine Webb, leader of the Green group, said it was a "regressive move" which would reduce efficiency by forcing staff to travel, including to County Hall.
She said: "It will increase traffic congestion, parking needs and the financial travel burden on staff who are already under massive time pressures and juggling heavy workloads."
Share