More than 300 civil servants were granted permission to work from abroad, including 140 from Ed Miliband's department, figures show. A report from the Taxpayers' Alliance (TPA) reveals that 359 staff could log in from holiday destinations such as Greece or Spain. The campaign's survey, conducted last month, provides a snapshot of the number of civil servants allowed to work remotely from overseas.
Taxpayer Fury Over Remote Work Policies
Callum McGoldrick, Investigations Campaign Manager at the TPA, stated that taxpayers will be "absolutely furious" that working from home now means working "from the beach." He told the Telegraph, which reported the figures: "Allowing hundreds of civil servants to log on from far-flung destinations, while public services stall at home, crosses the line from flexible working into taxpayer-funded globe-trotting."
Government Response
A government spokesman said most civil servants are expected to spend at least 60% of their hours working from the office. He added that government departments must comply with strict regulations when deciding whether to allow staff to work abroad temporarily. The TPA reported that eight departments admitted to allowing staff to clock in from overseas, while six did not respond, suggesting the figures could be higher. According to the government, the figures include civil servants who have to travel abroad for their jobs.
Holiday Booking Trends Amid Global Uncertainty
News of the figures comes as new research shows many Brits are delaying booking holidays amid the conflict in the Middle East and the rising cost of living. A survey of 2,000 adults indicated that 30% of those planning to travel abroad this summer intend to book their trip two to four weeks in advance. 10% aim to confirm their itinerary even closer to the departure date, according to research from travel trade organisation ABTA. Of those planning to take a trip over the next 12 months, 38% of respondents said they have delayed booking. Among the most common reasons are waiting to see what happens with flight costs (43%), wanting more certainty over the cost of living and holiday prices, the conflict in the Middle East, and the availability of jet fuel. ABTA commissioned The Nursery Research to carry out the survey from May 8 to 19.
