Reform UK, which runs the authority, has been critical of working from home policies in the public sector and had ordered a review of arrangements at Norfolk County Council, where the practice has been widespread among the 7,000-plus workforce since the Covid pandemic. Norfolk County Council's County Hall headquarters (Image: Mike Page)The new diktat comes before the conclusion of that review and other departments may now follow suit. Ian Wake (Image: Norfolk County Council)The document states: "The expectation is that colleagues spend at least two days per week working face-to-face in an office or community setting while continuing to work flexibly where appropriate. "The evidence base clearly demonstrates that home working can increase productivity where colleagues need to complete tasks requiring solitary focus, whilst relational face-to-face working increases productivity for tasks requiring collaboration, discussion, and creativity. Staff were told such face-to-face working could take place at council offices, libraries and other community venues.