Transition to ‘blended’ work at Department of Health

Staff at the Department of Health are presently required to work from its office in Dublin for two days per week, this newspaper has been told. 

In May 2020, the Medical Independent (MI) reported that only 15 per cent of staff were working on-site at the Department’s headquarters at Miesian Plaza, Lower Baggot Street, because of Covid-19 restrictions. 

However, the Department is introducing a “blended working policy”. 

“The Department is operating under the guidance of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to remote working in line with relevant Government decisions,” a spokesperson told MI. 

“At the present time, during the transition to formal blended working this year, all employees of the Department are required to work on-site for a minimum of two days per week, unless business requirements for particular roles require them to be on-site more frequently. 

“It is also open to those who choose to do so, to work on-site for more than two days per week.” 

At the end of May, there were 667 employees employed in the Department. 

“The Department, in line with all other Government departments, will be developing and implementing its own blended working policy before the end of Q2, 2022, based on the Blended working policy framework for the civil service.” 

The Department occupies 4.2 of seven floors in the building. The other tenants are the Department of Children and Youth Affairs; Department of Finance; and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.