Prospect warns government not to silence legitimate discussion about workforce concerns

Prospect has written to the Minister for the Cabinet Office Steve Barclay expressing concern at Draconian efforts to police civil service networks. These networks facilitate discussion on issues such as race at work, inclusion and employment good practice.

This comes after it was reported that the government sent an instruction to civil servants saying that “Networks and their members must complete such checks to avoid any invitations being issued to individuals and/or organisations that have provided commentary on government policy, political decisions, approaches or individuals in government that could be deemed political. Commentary may have been made on social media or other outlets.”

In the letter to the minister,  Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy points out that:

The civil service rightly prides itself on being an equal, diverse and inclusive employer. Trade unions and the equality networks are an essential part of progress that government has made so far in living up to these ambitions.

Recent media coverage suggests that ministers now believe that a track record of campaigning on racism, diversity and equality matters is a breach of impartiality guidance. Whether or not these reports are true, many public servants will feel they are incredibly damaging to the morale of staff, and will negatively impact on your ability to attract talent into public service in the future.

The letter then warns that:

The attempt to silence discussion on vital issues such as race at work, inclusion and employment good practice is chilling. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are wholly consistent with the values of the Civil Service Code; further being politically impartial and advocating for workforce diversity are perfectly compatible, and in our view necessary, to live up to the ambitions of the civil service.