Hybrid row | ONS staff vote to strike as bosses push for office attendance

Employees at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have voted for potential strike action amid disputes with bosses over office attendance.

The PCS (Public & Commercial Services) union revealed that, in a recent ballot, 71% of ONS members taking part voted to take strike action, and 92% voted to take action short of a strike (ASOS), on a 63% turnout in their dispute over a forced return to workplaces.

The union says ONS management is insistent on staff spending at least 40% of the time in a designated workplace.

Before this policy was introduced earlier in 2024, staff had maximum flexibility to choose how much of their working time to spend in the office, and how much at home, and the organisation’s bosses had repeatedly reassured them that this would remain the position.