Only 36 civil servants show up at Scotland's £2.4m government HQ after Swinney's return-to-office pledge

The Scottish government's main headquarters, Victoria Quay in Edinburgh, which can accommodate up to 2,200 employees and costs £2.4 million annually to run, is almost completely deserted on a daily basis. On a recent Friday morning, only 36 staff had arrived by 9am, despite First Minister John Swinney's pledge in May last year to require civil servants to work from the office at least two days a week, or 40% of the working week. Swinney had even expressed a desire to go further, but workers and unions resisted, with some employees calling the mandate an attack on their human rights.

Government figures show the building's occupancy rate in June was just 27.1%, meaning more than two-thirds of desks were empty. The running costs have risen to record levels, including £1.3 million for planned maintenance, £151,000 for repairs, and £716,000 for electricity. The building houses staff from departments responsible for education, environment, transport, and planning.

Politicians and campaigners have condemned the situation as an astonishing waste of taxpayers' money. Tory MSP Miles Briggs said the SNP government has completely lost control of its civil servants, and that ministers are content spending millions on an office that is routinely empty. Benjamin Elks of the TaxPayers' Alliance said Scottish taxpayers will be shocked by the extraordinary costs of running offices for staff who can't be bothered to turn up, and suggested selling off underused offices. The Federation of Small Businesses noted that only one in nine companies now embrace remote working, and employers are concerned that home working is eroding creativity, social skills, and motivation among workers.

One unnamed employee explained that before Covid, attendance was different, but on a Friday in summer when parliament is in recess, most people choose to work from home. The situation highlights a disconnect between government policy and actual practice, with the promised return-to-office mandate not being enforced effectively.