Civil servants have called for mandatory office working to be scrapped to protect them from higher living costs brought on by the Iran war. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has urged ministers to end rules requiring them to commute to work for at least three days a week.
The PCS, the largest union for Whitehall staff, said the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran was “pushing up costs for workers who are already struggling to make ends meet,” amid increases in fuel prices, energy bills predicted to go up by 20% and higher food prices. The union described office working as “out of step” with worsening financial pressures and said it placed more strain on public sector workers who face lower pay.
John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “The PCS claims that civil servants are poorly paid, despite Britain's bureaucrats benefiting from higher salaries than their private sector counterparts on top of better holiday entitlements, more sick leave, and significantly more generous pensions.
“Ministers should be ignoring these demands and telling recalcitrant pen-pushers to grow up.”
The PCS highlighted advice from the International Energy Agency (IEA), an international treaty organization, which recommended two weeks ago that countries reduce their energy consumption through home working to limit the impact of higher fuel costs. The IEA's guidance for businesses and individuals also included using public transport instead of cars, driving slowly, avoiding air travel and switching from gas stoves to electric.
The recommendations were rejected by Labour, with the Prime Minister's official spokesperson telling the public: “We [Britain] have a diverse and resilient supply. People in the UK should continue to go about their days in normal fashion.”
Fran Heathcote, the general secretary of the PCS, said the government “must prepare to adapt its approach in response to events like this and scrap the 60% mandate which would provide immediate relief to our members and help reduce costs,” The Telegraph reported.
It is understood that Labor has no plans to change the policy that asks civil servants to spend at least 60% of their time working in an official building – a mandate set by the previous Conservative Government.
Civil Service pay in the UK is structured by grade, with a median salary of £33,980, although pay varies significantly by department. As of 2026, entry-level salaries average around £23,000, while senior civil servants (SCS) can earn £80,000.