Reform bosses attempted ‘work from home crackdown’ in 'secret meetings'

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Reform bosses attempted to try and crack down on council staff working from home in secret meetings, according to union officials.

Union bosses have told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that Reform leaders at Leicestershire County Council tried to push for a major change to the council’s flexible working policy, requiring all staff to spend 50 percent of their working week in the office.

Trade union Unison, who represents staff at the county council, said that the new policy would have “removed managers’ discretion to allow working from home on a case-by-case basis”, meaning staff would need to attend the office no matter where they were based or what their job was.

A spokesperson said that the new policy would have “ignored the fact that working space at county hall had changed, some of it being rented out to other agencies” and that “working practices and patterns had also changed and the introduction of the policy would have disadvantaged a number of staff”.

During an Employment Committee meeting on September 18, councillors met in private to discuss “proposed changes to the amount of time staff would be expected to work from a county council base” which would provide “greater clarity and consistency in working arrangements across the council, reflecting operational needs, employee expectations, and external influences”.

A consultation with staff and trade unions was launched, with union leaders telling the LDRS that there was “overwhelming” pushback from staff over the proposals.

The committee later met in December 2025 to discuss the feedback before being given “four options” regarding how the council should proceed. A motion was passed with eight members voting for, and five voting against.

Meeting documents show that legal advice was sought before the proposal was ultimately dropped.

Council bosses have since confirmed to the LDRS that, from June, the county council’s new policy is that the default location for staff is the office or community base, and that any home-based working is agreed with managers.

A spokesperson added that the new policy was “designed to ensure that services are delivered in the best possible way for residents of Leicestershire”.

Union leaders also claim that they met with the leader of the council Dan Harrison “seemed to be of the view that working from home was being used as a way for staff to work less”.

Back in February, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for an end to working from home, claiming it was ‘nonsense’ that people are more productive.

Cllr Harrison also told the LDRS back in February that it was ‘impossible’ to achieve ‘efficiency’ due to working from home, adding he wanted council staff ‘back in work’.

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However, meetings discussing council staff working arrangements were still held in private.

Assistant director of people, property and transformation, Lucy Littlefair, told the employment committee on May 21 that the new policy was being slowly rolled out from the beginning of March this year.

UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said: “Employers allowing flexible working often have more productive and content staff.

“Reform has even acknowledged working from home is an accepted part of modern employment practices by advertising jobs at the party with such arrangements.”

Conservative opposition leader Deborah Taylor told the LDRS that the staff she spoke to “overwhelmingly opposed” the plan.

“Imposing a rigid 50 percent office rule would have ignored how the council actually works today, the changes to county hall, and the needs and voices of our staff.

“It’s right that it’s been dropped, but it should never have been proposed in the first place.

“We need policies built on trust, evidence, and engagement, not assumptions. Our staff are central to delivering vital services, and policies affecting them must be developed with proper engagement, not imposed from the top down.

“I am particularly troubled by the suggestion of the leader that working from home is being used as a way for staff to work less. There is no evidence to support that claim.

“Throughout recent years, council staff have demonstrated professionalism and commitment in delivering services under flexible arrangements. Trust in our workforce should be the foundation of any policy, not suspicion.”

Council leader Dan Harrison said: “The default location for council staff is in the office or community base, with any home-based working specifically agreed.

“This policy isn’t new, the council, like many other organisations has just reviewed and updated a previous document to provide greater clarity on where and how our staff are expected to work.

“The consultation included a 50 percent office attendance proposal, but the trade unions have instead agreed a policy which allows greater flexibility for individual services to determine the most suitable working arrangements.”

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