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Just one in seven staff at the Department for Work turn up by midday
Researchers counted 317 of 2,245 Department for Work and Pensions staff entering its central London headquarters by midday on a recent Friday. The figures have renewed criticism over whether civil servants are complying with office attendance rules and whether the government is getting value from its office space.
At Caxton House, 26 staff arrived between 7am and 8am, 114 by 9am, 220 by 10am and 278 by 11am. The building has 1,395 workspaces, and the article says 1,350 staff would need to be at their desks on an average day for the DWP to meet its target. The department said its published attendance data shows it is meeting targets, while the Centre for Government Reform and a Conservative spokesman criticised enforcement and attendance.
In short
- 317 of 2,245 DWP staff were counted at headquarters by midday.
- The building has 1,395 workspaces, with more than three-quarters empty.
- The DWP says its published data shows it meets attendance targets.
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The case for
The count suggests a substantial gap between the number of staff present by midday and the level of attendance the department says is needed to meet its target. If office attendance rules are meant to support collaboration and justify the cost of government workplaces, the figures warrant scrutiny of how consistently they are enforced and whether the space is being used well. Such scrutiny could help ensure public resources are providing value.
The case against
A single Friday count at one headquarters may not represent attendance across the department or over time, and arriving after midday or working elsewhere may not be captured. The DWP says its published attendance data shows it is meeting targets, which may use a broader or more representative measure than this snapshot. Judging compliance or office value fairly requires comparing like-for-like data and accounting for the work staff do outside the building.
Explained simply
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is the government department responsible for benefits, pensions and employment support. Its central London headquarters is Caxton House, where staff can work alongside colleagues or carry out some duties elsewhere.
Civil servants are subject to rules on how often they should attend the office. The figures have prompted debate about how attendance is checked and whether government offices are being used efficiently, while the DWP says its published data shows it is meeting its targets.
The Centre for Government Reform and Conservative representatives have criticised how the rules are enforced. The issue matters because office attendance affects how public money is spent on government buildings and how departments organise their work.