The pandemic has introduced new ways of working. To put the lessons learned to good use, France’s Interministerial Directorate for Government Transformation (DITP) has published a compilation of practices designed to inspire lasting change. Organised into eight information sheets across three themes, the document offers ideas on how to reshape how teams work, improve how information is disseminated and develop group problem-solving techniques.

An outcome of collective bargaining with unions representing contract employees, an agreement to make a special payment to German civil servants has been extended to tenured personnel. All civil servants up to and including middle management will receive a one-time payment in compensation for pandemic-related hardships. Three different amounts (ranging from €300 to €600) will be paid out in inverse proportion to job level.

According to a survey of government departments in the Netherlands, stress levels are up from having to work more from home and adapt to new conditions. To improve well-being, the government launched the IIR Vital initiative: regular meetings just to stay in touch, with no specific work objective. Preliminary feedback has been very positive so far.