'Out of touch' | Gov minister says remote workers deserve pay cut

An unnamed Government Cabinet minister has sparked controversy by suggesting that civil servants should either return to their offices on Whitehall, or face a dock in their pay if they refuse.

The anonymous minister alleged, as reported by the Daily Mail, that following the extended remote working period as a result of the coronavirus, returning to a central place of work should be mandatory – with refusal leading to reductions in salary.

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“People who have been working from home aren’t paying their commuting costs so they have had a de facto pay rise, so that is unfair on those who are going into work,” the minister reportedly told the paper.

“If people aren’t going into work, they don’t deserve the terms and conditions they get if they are going into work,” they added, noting that those who chose to stay remote threatened their own career prospects.