Hybrid work model – response of central government to contemporary trends and changes in the labour market

On Thursday 16 November, the workshop “New framework for hybrid work in government bodies under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021-2026” was delivered at the National and University Library in Zagreb.

UIt is envisaged by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to have 20 % of civil servants included in hybrid work models and 60 % of civil servants trained to use a hybrid work model by the end of 2023. 

Investment C2.2. R2-I2 Introduction of a hybrid workplace model - Smartworking under the NRRP, worth EUR 9.92 million, together with reforms aimed at improving the recruitment process in the civil service and introduce a new pay and work model in civil and public services, is being implemented by the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration.

“The introduction of a hybrid work model is not only a measure to be fulfilled within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, but also the response of the central government to contemporary trends and changes in the labour market. The Ministry of Justice and Public Administration has therefore secured computer equipment worth over EUR 6.6 million under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for the hybrid work model. At the beginning of this year, 5,000 sets of computer equipment were distributed to all state bodies, a pilot project for the introduction of hybrid workplace was successfully implemented in 28 state bodies and 62 % of civil servants were trained on the hybrid work model, which fulfilled one of the indicators under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The second indicator, namely 20 % of civil servants included in the hybrid work model, has to be fulfilled by the end of 2023”, said Minister Ivan Malenica.

Apart from Minister Malenica, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Zvonimir Savić also addressed the participants at the beginning of the workshop.
Telework and hybrid work enable a number of positive impacts, for example by reducing traffic congestion, business and housing costs, critical infrastructure load (kindergartens, schools, public transport), and by accelerating digitalisation, thus contributing directly to EU policies for green and digital transition and climate neutrality by 2050. There are also advantages for the employees themselves, such as increased flexibility and autonomy, better work-life balance and cutting back on commuting time. 
State Secretary of the Central State Office for the Development of Digital Society Bernard Gršić informed the participants of the workshop about the application of information security measures in the hybrid work model, and Director of the Tax Administration of the Ministry of Finance Božidar Kutleša presented the good practices in the organisation and application of the hybrid work model in the Tax Administration.

The new legislative framework for hybrid work in state bodies was presented by Dr Ivana Nagy from the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration, while Marina Borić from the Directorate for Labour and Safety at Work of the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy spoke about occupational safety in the hybrid work model.

The workshop was completed by a pilot training “Module C - Hybrid work model for organisational units for human resources management in the civil service”, delivered by Juraj Ivanković from WYG Consultation d.o.o. 

Training on hybrid work in government bodies is carried out through four modules: Module A - Introduction to hybrid work, Module B - Hybrid work for managers, Module C - intended for human resources management units, and Module D - Strengthening digital literacy and information security in the hybrid work model. Module A has so far been completed by 12,290 civil servants and Module B by 1,864 managerial civil servants, which constitutes 14,155 out of a total of 22,660 civil servants. Module C will start after the adoption of the new legislative framework, while Module D will start on 23 November 2023 with online training through 10 workshops. 

The workshop was attended by over 80 civil servants from 50 different state administration bodies, and the aim of the workshop was to introduce general secretaries in ministries and managers of HRM units in all state bodies with the practice and possibilities of new work arrangements in state bodies, introduced in accordance with the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021-2026. 



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