Civil service and wah

[LolaTola]

I've just applied for a job in a civil service dpt in London. If I get it I'll have quite a commute and luckily work at home twice a week in my current job. Does anyone have any idea what the work at home policies are like for the CS? I don't want to ask in case it puts them off.

Completely depends on the department, team and role. Generally "smarter working" means it's allowed so long as it fits with the job. Can you be anymore specific about either the dept or type of role?

If it's "MoD", it doesn't happen (or didn't).

It's generally accepted in the departments I've worked with and in.

In fact, there aren't enough desks for everyone in our building, so it's actively encouraged.

However, I guess it would depend on the role and team you were in as to how it could work.

Tends to be for the higher grades. This is only because the lower grades AA/AO/EO are the customer facing jobs so cannot be done at home. (There will be exceptions though).
I work at home 2-3 days a week. More if I want to. It's really up to me.
AA/AO and sometimes EO also tend to be 'supervised' jobs.

In my small agency department it’s encouraged where the role makes it possible. I don’t even have a desk in the office. Not until you’ve reached a certain level of experience though. AT least 2-3 years.

Depends on the job. I think Westminster / MoD offers it but will then probably get rid of you if you try to use it in your probationary period. Smaller teams might be better.

Which dept?

The dept I worked for didn't because it would have involved transporting customers sensitive personal information out of office. Massive security risk.

It depends on the job role, if a reasonable adjustment should be in place and the mood of your manager.

It's not acceptable in my department. It also might be useful for you to know that they have a policy of only recruiting at the bottom of the stated pay band.

Dh works from home regularly, usually once a week, depending on his meetings, briefings etc. He genuinely gets more done and it saves on fuel costs. He has found it depends on your dept and the attitude of your superior management. Some have actively encouraged it, others he has had to sell the benefits to them.

If it's "MoD", it doesn't happen (or didn't).

I know a few people in the MoD who work from home on occasion, and I'm aware of some areas where it is the norm. Depends on the department/role though.

My DD is in the Civil Service in Westminster.. She joined on a graduate training scheme just over a year ago.

After her first few weeks of training they were happy for her to mix going into the office with working from home. In fact, working from home has been actively encouraged.

When they are in the office the system is "hot desking" so the don't have their own desks, they have what is available that day and it is first come first served.

Completely depends on the Department and role. I've had jobs where I couldn't (security reasons) and roles where you wouldn't expect to be able to but were welcome to.
But it will also depend on your line manager. I've had pro and anti managers in the past.
If you say what Dept I'm sure someone will have worked there.
(Ifs its too secret then... no. You won't be able to WFH!)

Massively varies as others have said- worth asking at the interview stage about the team you'd be joining and the working culture and environment and then at offer stage what flexible working would be open to you. Usually these will be agreed as informal local arrangements which are then changeable, rather than a contractual entitlement.

IME, a day a week is not uncommon once you're up to speed if in policy/corporate type roles which is the majority in Westminster, but this would need to fit around your work commitments which would mean being flexible on which day you took and not taking a WFH day on weeks where you are needed in the office. TBA it can be challenging to get WFH days on a Friday as although the ministers have returned to their constituencies, in many depts there has recently been a nervousness that everyone was out on Fridays, so mid-week is more usual for WFH.

Used to work for the MoD and did one day a week at home. There aren’t enough desks where they have shut the provincial offices and bases. WFH is encouraged.

Quite common in the department I know best, but very much dependent on the role.

Thank you all. Sounds like it may not be impossible. I'll have to sound them out if I get offered the job.

Oops. No idea why I put this in AIBU.