Civil servants have been told ‘positively’ by newly appointed Health Secretary Therese Coffey, it was revealed today.
Embarking on her new role in charge of the Government’s Department of Health and Social Care, her office emailed staff a list of guidelines on the MP’s ‘work hobbies’ who love to sing karaoke.
In addition to requiring active workers, it included a ban on the use of technical jargon and Oxford commas.
The email recipient called it ‘extremely patronizing’, arguing that Ms Coffey ‘didn’t want to deal with the issues’.
Embarking on her new role in charge of the Government’s Department of Health and Social Care, Therese Coffey’s office emailed staff a guide to the MP’s ‘work hobbies’.
Although, others defended the style guide, arguing that current communications tactics deployed throughout Whitehall’s medical corridors would leave bosses with injuries ‘through the ceiling’.
Guidance has been passed on to staff in the DHSC, which Ms Coffey took over last week when new Prime Minister Liz Truss announced her cabinet.
It has also been submitted to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), a DHSC project to replace the now disbanded Public Health England and is responsible for tackling infectious diseases.
Both agencies face the prospect of job cuts, amid efforts to eliminate red tape and save millions of taxpayer dollars.
UKHSA, the leading public health organization launched by Matt Hancock during the Covid pandemic, is said to have cut 40% of its 2,000 workforce earlier this year. Staff from the temporary contact local health protection team were present at the tight area.
At the same time, civil servants are said to have been ‘dismayed’ when they formally proposed a wage increase below inflation.
Some permanent employees have been offered a 2.5% pay rise to help manage the growing cost of living.
MailOnline asked DHSC for a copy of the email sent on behalf of Ms Coffey, but did not receive it.
The Financial Times, which viewed the letter, stated in one line: ‘Be positive – if we’ve done something good, let’s say so and avoid double negatives.’
Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted a similar style guide when given the role of Leader of the House of Commons in Boris Johnson’s Government.
Employees are required not to use the Oxford comma, which is implemented to separate the last two items in a list of three or more items.
Meanwhile, prohibited words and phrases include: very, due, unacceptable, equally, yourself, very much, received, speculated, met, certain, and disappointed.
Ms Coffey has previously discussed her dislike of the Oxford comma on social media, saying that in 2015 it was one of her ‘hate pets’.
Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk
