A compromise has been reached in a row over remote working arrangements for civil servants.
The Fórsa trade union had instructed its members in the Department of Social Protection to resist efforts to increase their number of in-office days from Tuesday.
The union had accused the department of acting unilaterally by trying to reduce the number of remote working days currently available to staff, without consulting with unions.
Following meetings today between management and unions, the plan for increased in-office days will not be going ahead on Tuesday for workers who do not wish to change their current arrangements.
"A compromise agreement has been reached where the workers can retain the working arrangements which they have had up to now pending the matter going through civil service dispute resolution procedures," said Fórsa Deputy General Secretary Éamonn Donnelly.
Some staff in the Department of Social Protection would have seen their in-office requirements increase from a minimum of one day a week to two days a week. Others would have seen their requirements rise from three days to four.
Fórsa had instructed its members to continue working their current arrangements and had warned that it was prepared to engage in a protective ballot for industrial action, should any members be threatened with disciplinary action for complying with the union instruction.
The Department of Social Protection said it shared the new policy with unions in November and has been in contact with them regarding its contents since then.
"A number of changes were made at the request of the unions," a spokesperson said.
"The Department met with union officials again today and has offered to use the agreed dispute resolution mechanisms."
"The Department will encourage and support staff who wish to work under the new blended working policy.
"Staff who wish to retain their existing attendance arrangements will be allowed to do so pending the outcome of any dispute resolution process," the spokesperson added.
The Department had said that a provision for up to three days working from home in any week is considered reasonable, is in line with arrangements in other Government departments and is provided for within the wider Civil Service Framework agreement.
The new Programme for Government commits to a review of the Blended Working Policy Framework, which provides for hybrid working arrangements for civil servants.
