A recent investigation has cast a critical spotlight on the activities within the UK civil service, revealing that hundreds of hours are being dedicated each month to internal events during official working hours. These controversial gatherings, often described as ‘woke events’ by critics, range from intimate ‘listening circles’ designed for specific identity groups to cultural and social sessions, raising significant questions about productivity and the allocation of public resources.
Among the events detailed in official documents are ‘listening circles for trans colleagues and allies,’ unique ‘sapphic sounds’ music events, and extensive diversity and inclusion sessions, some spanning up to two hours. These gatherings highlight a burgeoning trend within government departments where employee-led networks are facilitating a wide array of activities beyond traditional departmental duties, touching on topics from identity to cultural appreciation.
These widespread meetings are largely orchestrated by various staff networks operating across government departments. These include dedicated diversity groups, environmental and faith networks, as well as culture and history enthusiast collectives. Some departments even maintain networks focused exclusively on promoting ‘flexible working,’ further diversifying the scope of internal engagements.
The sheer volume of these activities has drawn particular attention. In May alone, publicly released documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act revealed that approximately 200 such events and meetings took place across just seven government departments. This translates to an average of ten distinct engagements occurring every single working day, underscoring the scale of this emerging trend within the public sector.
Specific instances further illustrate the nature of these engagements. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, for instance, hosted an hour-long ‘listening circle for trans colleagues and allies.’ Similarly, the Treasury’s history network held a 90-minute presentation titled ‘Wars, fires and pandemics: how events shaped our buildings,’ indicating a broad range of topics covered under the umbrella of staff network activities.
LGBT networks have been particularly active, regularly scheduling events during working hours. Examples include ‘a conversation on lesbian identity’ and multiple ‘sapphic sounds’ music events held within the Department for Transport and the Department for Education. A ‘listening circle’ discussing the Supreme Court’s judgment on biological sex also took place at the Department for Business and Trade, showcasing the varied and sometimes sensitive nature of these internal discussions.
The Department for Health and Social Care emerged as a leading host, organizing 84 events in May, the highest among surveyed departments. These included sessions like an ‘Invisible Women’ presentation and a ‘race equality allyship working group catch up.’ Such extensive participation has fueled concerns from watchdogs regarding the efficiency and public value of such extensive internal programming, particularly when conducted on the taxpayer’s dime.
Elliot Keck, head of campaigns at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, voiced strong opposition, stating that ‘Taxpayers are sick of seeing staff time wasted on pointless meetings and irrelevant events, none of which benefits the Britons paying for them.’ In response, a Government spokesman clarified that while departments oversee their networks, it is ‘strongly advised’ that such activities occur outside of official working hours, including during lunch breaks, aligning with private sector practices regarding time management and public accountability.
