New Rules of The Workplace

(Alamy)

7 min read6 hr

Technology, the pandemic and generational shifts are changing workplace etiquette. Parliament in particular is struggling to find its way, writes Harriet Symonds. Illustrations by Tracy Worrall

Is it acceptable to use AI when corresponding with constituents? When is it OK to turn off your camera during a remote meeting? Will the election of Donald Trump and the arrival of a new ‘naughty generation’ herald the return of the fabled Westminster ‘two-bottle lunch’?

Navigating a workplace with colleagues spanning five generations ranging from their early 20s to those over 70 has rarely been so fraught, given the rapidity of technological change that is leaving some behind. One long-serving technophobe MP is known for making their staffers read out briefings and emails, as well as dictating their response.

So, what exactly are the new rules of the road when it comes to surviving the SW1 workplace?
Can I use artificial intelligence at work?

As AI creeps into the workplace, it throws up a whole host of opportunities, to get things right or wrong – alongside the accompanying ethical dilemmas.

One new staffer reveals they have started using ChatGPT to help them respond to casework. “AI for casework sort of makes sense because a lot of it is repetitive,” another staffer explains.

Several staffers reveal they have also started using AI programmes to help keep on top of their boss’ diary and produce briefing notes. For some MPs, however, the answer is firmly negative. One says they were flat out told “no” by their MP when they suggested using AI. They “don’t trust it”, the staffer explains.

Is WhatsApp safe?
In recent years, MPs, ministers, staffers and journalists alike have come to rely on WhatsApp to communicate. It is encrypted and convenient – and one can’t really resist its spread. But the potential for user-error is massive, especially from the less tech-savvy MPs. One journalist was even accidentally added to a Conservative Party WhatsApp strategy group during a leadership election.

In a bid to cover their tracks, some MPs have been tempted to turn on the default timer to enable disappearing messages. Some are setting them to just 24 hours – deemed a red flag by others who wonder what the point is when the messages are bound to be screenshotted anyway.

Can I ignore emails outside working hours?
Parliament can be a “toxic” work environment, admit both MPs and staffers, where the concept of a work-life balance doesn’t really exist. The estate is a bit like a university campus in that it has restaurants, coffee shops, bars and even a gym – so why would anyone need to leave?

“It’s 24-7,” says one former staffer. “I never switched off because I felt like I was not doing my job properly. But it wasn’t healthy and I definitely wouldn’t recommend it.”

They add: “If you receive a message at eight o’clock at night that the jobs and lives of people in your constituency are going to be affected, you can’t just ignore it until the morning.”

So the answer to this one seems to be a resounding ‘no’.

Can I work from home?
Long before Covid, MPs were remote workers in the sense that they split their time between Westminster and the constituency. These days, most spend a maximum of three days in SW1. For their staffers, however, the question is not so easy. “I never did,” says one former staffer. “It’s not like in a normal workplace where you can say we brought in this new ‘have Fridays off policy’,” they add.

So it rather depends on who you are.

Zoom camera – on or off?
One staffer says they always keep their camera off during Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) meetings. If people have their camera on, “it’s because you want to be seen”, they add.

While a ‘camera-off’ approach might be favoured among staff, they recognise there is a case for turning it on “if you’re intending to contribute”.

A former staffer recalls their first departmental meeting when they kept their camera on. “One of the people in my team said: ‘You don’t have to, you can just turn it off and do whatever you want at the same time’.”

There have also been occasions when staffers have forgotten to change their MPs’ Zoom names back to their own. Cue panic from attendees in the next meeting! (Especially if it’s a secret meeting their MP shouldn’t be aware of.)

So the answer seems to be ‘camera on’ – unless you don’t mind people knowing you have nothing to contribute.

I worked for what I’d consider a young MP... and they were the worst employer I’ve ever had

My colleague is from a different generation. How do I bridge the gap?
The last election radically changed the make-up of Parliament, making it the youngest and most diverse yet. The average age of an MP is now 46 – and it’s the young-gun, bright-faced MPs that appear to be clashing with their staffers most.

“The ambitious ones will treat their staff like shit regardless,” says the former staffer. “Those that are ambitious will put more pressure on their staff… A lot of these people haven’t been managers before.” One senior Labour MP says from what they’ve observed this is “certainly” true.

A former No 10 staffer points out that despite working for several MPs over the years, they never once received proper training. “I worked for what I’d consider a young MP in my last job and they were the worst employer I’ve ever had by a long stretch,” the former staffer reveals.

“They preach that they were good employers – in fact, they preached that to me, and it just wasn’t true.”

Indeed, Gen Z and millennial pairings in the workplace can often result in a “catastrophic fallout”, says generational expert Chloe Combi. “The millennial generation is actually the most stressed generation. they came from that rise-and-grind culture right after the 2008 economic crash. They’re quite impatient, often with Gen Z.”

One staffer says that a lot of frustration comes from the feeling that they are having to “babysit” MPs.

Generation Alpha will be the next generation set to enter the workforce and are the first to grow up in a fully digital world. How will they impact workplace dynamics? “Gen A is showing all kinds of signs of being a bit naughtier than Gen Z,” says Combi. “I think we’re about to see a sort of resurgence, more of a kind of a 90s, 2000s culture.”

Answer: it’s complicated.

Should I drink at work?
Westminster’s bars are under the spotlight, with some MPs and parliamentary staff determined to shut them down. But some staffers say they are nostalgic for Parliament’s heyday: “We came into this job at the wrong time,” one jokes. “It’s ruined for us.”

The days when MPs and hacks would drink until 10 or 11 at night have mostly disappeared. Even the old press gallery dining room has been reduced to a small café with Ikea-style armchairs hidden at the back for parliamentary security to nod off in.

But there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. It’s understood that Moncrieff’s café could return to serving alcoholic drinks under plans that could follow from a wider consultation.

“It’s not off the table,” says one press gallery committee member.

The answer is now – as it has always been – drink, if you must, responsibly.

Navigating the workplace, especially in Parliament, demands an ability to adapt to a landscape that’s constantly shifting, the polish of a silky diplomat, the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of a saint, the resilience of a solo ocean rower, and IT skills that could earn you millions elsewhere.

Good luck in the jungle!

PoliticsHome Newsletters

Get the inside track on what MPs and Peers are talking about. Sign up to The House's morning email for the latest insight and reaction from Parliamentarians, policy-makers and organisations.