Does anyone work in the civil service in London?

[puddle]

Am thinking about taking a job in the cs and wondered what the terms and conditions are like, This would be London based.

Specifically wondering about holiday and other leave, season ticket loans, and opportunities to work flexibly.

TIA

[ImBarryScott]

Dh used to work at the Home Office. He got loads of annual leave, additonal "privilege" days, non-contributory final salary pension, and season ticket loan. There was also a good cheap canteen and bar in the building, as well as a sports club. His office all worked flexibly, with core hours of 10am-3.45pm, and the rest was up to him.

Why he jacked it in to become a copper I'll never understand ....

[Lawrene8]

I work for the civil service in London. There are great perks but it depends which dept you work for - where have you been offered a job?

Most have flexi leave and they will often let you work term time only if that's what you need.

[puddle]

Lawrene I have been offered a job but would prefer not to say in which dpt! HAven't had the letter setting out T and C yet. (But not the Home Office Barry)

Someone told me that they offer a free travel card (zones 1-6) is that right?

[beingliedto]

DH is in the CS but it does depend on the dept as to the benefits. You aren't likely to get anything for free as its government so everything will be taxed as a benefit. But as IBS said ther are loads of good benefits and some depts can offer term time working as an option which could be worth considering if you have DC.

[beingliedto]

BTW its not MI5 is it if you're not saying

[claraq]

Hi
I used to work for the Civil Service in London and overseas (FCO) and the best thing was the maternity benefits - six months on full pay (probably nine months now?) plus if you were overseas at the time, all your allowances. They are also ON PAPER quite family friendly, with an on-site creche and flexible working schemes including lots of job shares.
I got 5 weeks holiday a year - I think it was 6 when abroad?
However I left as a) I didn't want to be London based or have to move overseas every few years now that I have a child and another on the way and b) I hated the hierarchy and found dealing with some of the people who worked there quite difficult.

[claraq]

I left officially in 2006 but was on maternity leave from the summer of 2005. But it's a big place! Where has your brother been posted? That might be a clue....

[claraq]

Hmmm can't think of anyone I know who has done those particular posts. However at one point I was in a department where I was copied into A LOT of emails and therefore got to know a lot of names, even if I never knew the people!
I think there are several thousand officers though...
Does he like it?

[claraq]

Good for him, at least he got the money. I just had to leave
And at least he got three good postings out of it. I only had one, but then perhaps it was my fault for getting married and having children

[claraq]

Ooops I think we have rather hi-jacked this post. Sorry Puddle.

[puddle]

lol beingliedto it's not MI5. Closest I get to that is watching spooks.

[micegg]

I havent read all the replies so please ignore if I am repeating anything:

I have been working for a HO agency in London for about 7 years. The pros are as follows:

Annual leave is 5 weeks plus 5 (i think) additional privellege days to be taken at specific days of the year

After 8 years you get another weeks leave

I work part time and so do may of my colleagues

Full pay on maternity leave for 9 months!

Final salary pension (for now)

The not so good:

Poor pay rises

Poor run down working environment

The red tape and heirachy

[MrsSchadenfreude]

When was your brother in Warsaw, Tinker? Perhaps I know him!

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Then I definitely would! (racks brains)