Public sector under pressure to end shopping half-days

PUBLIC service managers have been asked to put an end to staff taking a traditional festive shopping half-day after the practice came in for strong criticism.

Union sources said that in a number of government departments and other state agencies managers have been sent ‘notes’ telling them the practice must now be curtailed.

The move follows the head of the Croke Park Agreement Implementation Body, PJ Fitzpatrick, stating he was “surprised” by the practice which had not been mentioned in departmental reform action plans recently presented to him. He added that it was unusual that such a practice could still exist, given staff’s increased flexibility in working patterns and shop opening hours being less curtailed.