Union, government mediation over working from home restrictions fails
Women are disproportionately affected by the flexible work restrictions.
Photo:
RNZ
The public sector union says mediation has failed to resolve its conflict with the government over working from home.
The union headed into mediation with the government on Tuesday to try to stop restrictions to flexible work practices.
At the end of last year guidelines were sent out to public sector chief executives to
tighten up on flexible working arrangements
.
The government said working from home arrangements should only be by agreement, should not compromise performance, and departments and agencies must regularly report on the number and nature of agreements in place.
In December
the PSA filed action against the move with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).
PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons told
Morning Report
she wanted the government to step away from the idea, similar to Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton did during this year's
Australian election
, to say "we got this wrong, we are sorry".
But Fitzsimons said after mediation failed the case was now heading to the ERA for resolution.
She said the union was dismayed to have not settled the matter quickly for public sector workers.
Fitzsimons said not being able to work from home disadvantaged women who make up 62 percent of the public service workforce.
She said flexible working conditions helped women access career opportunities, while maintaining family commitments as well.
"It's good for employers, people are more productive, they concentrate better, so it is common sense as well."
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