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English Tory MP slams Welsh Government for allowing staff a weekly ‘wellness hour’

21 Apr 2022 2 minute read
Ben Bradley MP, photo by David Woolfall (CC BY 3.0). Right, Welsh Government HQ in Cathays, Cardiff.

An English Conservative MP has slammed the Welsh Government for allowing staff one hour off a week to focus on their ‘wellness’.

Ben Bradley, who represents a seat in Nottinghamshire, criticised the policy in the Telegraph newspaper.

“Rather than introducing wellness hours, civil service mandarins should be focused on getting their staff back to the office and implementing the reforms of the elected government,” he said.

The Welsh Government have said that the policy allows staff time for “attending fitness classes, going for walks and taking painting classes”. It was “good business sense” to do activities such as yoga and “mindfulness” to help workers “switch off and relax,” they said.

The permanent secretary of the Welsh Government Dame Shan Morgan said at the time of its lunch that the policy showed the public sector was leading by example against the backdrop Wales-only initiatives such as the Well-Being of Future Generations Act and the Welsh Prosperity for All strategy, which seeks to grow the economy inclusively, spread opportunity and also promote well-being.

“I find the walk to the office helps to prepare me for the day ahead, while the walk home allows me to – literally and figuratively – leave work behind,” she said.

The policy was trialled by the Welsh government in 2018 and has now been rolled out as part of an agreement with unions PCS, Prospect and the FDA. Time can also be tacked onto designated lunch breaks, used to start work late or to finish early.


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Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
1 year ago

What has It to do with him? He should get on with his own job

Welsh_Siôn
Welsh_Siôn
1 year ago
Reply to  Stephen Owen

“Sorry. I can’t. I’ve got a week’s sabbatical in the Bahamas in my 6th home preparing my thesis on “Deckchairs in My Life”. Toodle pip!

Welsh_Siôn
Welsh_Siôn
1 year ago

It’s another version of Tory mantra – work until you drop (unless of course you’re a Foreign Secretary on a lilo in the Med, when ‘the sea wasn’t open’ or a dodgy PM who doesn’t put the effort into any ‘work’ he has to do but just ‘party under lockdown’ and BYOB. Another example also of the requirement of getting others into (any badly-paid) work or be sanctioned by DWP and be shopped by their ATOS acolytes. There’s always the workhouse, of course. The Conservative Party has been adopting this Arbeit Macht Frei policy for some time now. It has… Read more »

Quornby
Quornby
1 year ago

Nothing to do with you, sod off back to Nottingham.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

Just an observation, will they have to commute to the proposed ‘Wellness’ village at Llanelli ? 2 slams in a row, 3 more N.C will have a grand slam !

Last edited 1 year ago by Mab Meirion
Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
1 year ago

It just shows the Tories don’t give a damn about the wellbeing of people just about making money at all costs.Inequality has skyrocketed over the last 40years as a result. It’s time for a different approach and well done to the Welsh Government for taking the initiative.

Edouard
Edouard
1 year ago

c**t arall.

Richard
Richard
1 year ago

Someone told him it ‘ was to
concentrate on their Welshness ‘ but he miss heard .

Argol Fawr!
Argol Fawr!
1 year ago

Cymerwch yr wythnos gyfan! welwn ni unrhyw wahaniaeth? 😉

The original mark
The original mark
1 year ago

The nasty party living up to its name yet again, Ben Bradley is just another gob on a stick,

Rob
Rob
1 year ago

Focus on Nottingham instead, we didn’t vote for you & we are more than capable of electing our own government.

Last edited 1 year ago by Rob
Y Cymro
Y Cymro
1 year ago

How is the Welsh Government’s wellness policy affecting Tory MP Ben Bradley in Nottingham? Best he close his vacuous mouth and stay out of Welsh politics. Clown!

Gareth
Gareth
1 year ago

In England, the beatings will continue, until morale improves.
By order of the Tory party.

Stuart Cane
Stuart Cane
1 year ago

Meanwhile, Tory MPs take a wellness hour to write crap for the Telegraph. Only difference is that they take a second income for their time!

Gareth W
Gareth W
1 year ago

Mind your own business and try to spend some time doing the job your supposed to be doing

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