Civil service and underperforming

Stepstepmother · 15/04/2022 17:26

Which department are you in? And what grade? (It makes a difference - I’m not just being nosy)

UpendedPineapple · 15/04/2022 17:28

So you need a stress reduction plan first off. I agree it depends on dept and grade.

Are you in the Union?

Hawkins001 · 15/04/2022 17:30

@HateMyJob12345

I work in the civil service, office based job, mainly at home since covid (which I don’t mind). My manager told me this week that he thinks I am underperforming. I have been in civil service 25 years and never had this happen before 😞 I have found work had been making me physically and mentally ill recently as the workload is too high, plus the actual work too complex for me to manage. Feeling so stressed and worried. Anyone else been through under performing procedures in the civil service who can give me a hand hold?

All the best op, can you breakdown your duties unless is classified, and what makes your manager think your underperformance vs previous years ?

AnneElliott · 15/04/2022 17:30

Has your worked changed then since you say it's complex? Or is it just you're finding it more difficult then you used to?

I agree that grade is relevant. Many differences between an underperforming EO and an under performing G7.

Diamondsareforever123 · 15/04/2022 17:39

Hi I was in the civil service for 25 years. You need to:

Talk to your manager about which objectives they consider you to be underperforming and how this can be improved. If you are feeling overwhelmed then you have to raise this as an issue. You should have agreed and attainable objectives.
If you're not in the union, I urge you to join. If you are, contact your union rep. They could accompany you to meeting with your manager.
If you are SEO grade or below you will need assistance with this problem as these are the grades management sometimes bully.
You say you have never had underperformance as an issue previously. Do you have a new manager?

I think you will need union help. Some managers in the CS can be utter bastards and make your life a misery (I have experienced this) while others are wonderful and make working life a joy. I hope all goes well for you!!

Sweepingeyelashes · 15/04/2022 17:44

I think I would be questioning your boss for some concrete details. Ideally, he should be really specific about what is not going right and have some sort of plan or suggestions for improving the situation. I have managed people for years and I think anybody telling a team member that they are underperforming with nothing more is an underperforming manager.

As a first step I think you might need to find out whether it's the quality or the quantity that is the the problem. Realistically, has the quantity or complexity of the work increased? I think there's a money saving trend of pushing work down to the lowest level that can handle it. Work that a specialist might normally do for example is pushed down to somebody who doesn't really have much idea about what to do at all. Or is it that you might be a bit distracted at home and spend more time than you realise doing non-work things? Or are you agonising over small things without making an overall judgment of what the big picture outcome should be? Can you step back and streamline any details of your work or work out what is the most critical thing to get done and do it while giving minimal attention to the other stuff.

Good luck with this.

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 15/04/2022 17:45

Hi @HateMyJob12345 I do think it makes a difference depending on what department you're in. From experience I know that some people find frontline operations and benefits difficult, generally thankless jobs and definitely UC is complex and changes rapidly.

Did your manager bring this up at your end year report meeting? Did they suggest anything? I'm pretty sure they didn't just say you're underperforming and leave it at that. Is there a plan in place to go over training/cut your workload?

Titterofwit · 15/04/2022 17:50

Are you being resistant to going back to work in the office? I ask because I overheard my own manager talking about the remaining exclusively home workers and how they can be 'persuaded' to come back into the office. Performance issues were mentioned.

Original poster

HateMyJob12345 · 15/04/2022 17:50

Thanks for all your comments. I’m a grade 7 in MOD. I’ve been working in my current post for around 18months but before that have had 3 previous grade 7 posts over 15 years or so and never had any complaints from managers. The work has just really ramped up over the last 6 months or so, there is just too much to do. I’m not coping with the workload but I honestly don’t think I’m underperforming just too much work. I think my manager isn’t coping either and is taking it out on me. I am in a Union so will contact them next week for advice plus HR. Just feel like shit. Work is stressful enough as it is right now and now this, it is literally making me feel sick.

OP posts:

Original poster

HateMyJob12345 · 15/04/2022 17:52

No I’ve not been resistant to going back to the office and have gone in whenever asked for face to face meetings, plus extra days voluntarily

OP posts:

Howmanydaysuntilfriday · 15/04/2022 17:56

Remember the civil service will have to have such strong grounds to fire you so I hope your not worrying about that. Straight to your line manager what you have said here, speak with HR and your union and all will be sorted

Original poster

HateMyJob12345 · 15/04/2022 18:05

I’m not concerned about getting fired (actually if I do it will be a relief haha), but concerned that work is going to be even more awful when I go back next week with this hanging over me and my end year appraisal in next few weeks. I know I need to stop thinking about work but I feel ill because not sleeping. I left a fantastic role and line manager a few years ago for this role thinking it would be a good move and so wish I hadn’t 😞 good advice about the stress reduction plan, I’ll ask for that. I’m also going to look for other roles as ideally I just want to move elsewhere. Just so difficult to concentrate on anything right now. My boss isn’t even substantive, he is same grade as me on temporary promotion to grade above me.

OP posts:

HumourReplacementTherapy · 15/04/2022 18:05

See it as an opportunity rather than a criticism
'Thank you for noticing my overwhelming workload. Here are a my current duties/projects/responsibilities
As you will appreciate it's too much for one person alone do I look forward to hearing what the fuck you're going to do about it
Ok so not the last bit but use it to your advantage.
Offer some 360 feedback

Original poster

HateMyJob12345 · 15/04/2022 18:07

Great advice Humour, thanks 😊

OP posts:

AnotherNC22 · 15/04/2022 18:13

Have you all your previous G7 posts been in the MOD? The MOD has an awful reputation around the CS in terms of staff wellbeing. I think I'd be looking to make a move to be honest, so sounds like a good idea if you are planning on looking around at other depts.

Original poster

HateMyJob12345 · 15/04/2022 18:16

Another- my previous role was MOD and it was with such lovely people. Others have been in other departments

OP posts:

Iamnotin · 15/04/2022 18:19

Just be aware that HR tend to support management, they are there for the organisation, not the individuals in the workforce.
But as a PP said this is an opportunity to highlight your impossible workload, and the stress it is causing you. Getting a transfer may be the best solution for you - it's not a failure, it's an escape!

UpendedPineapple · 15/04/2022 18:27

Are you in FDA? They're good imo.

Get everything minuted (with union rep if necessary) that you are overworked and it's causing you a stress related mental health issue. Ask your manager how they will make this better?

If the manager is the problem, then ask for a change of line manager or think about it raiding a complaint again via the union.

Do you have EAS? They can be very useful in helping and giving options.

And as I said originally ask for a stress reduction plan.

Original poster

HateMyJob12345 · 15/04/2022 18:28

Thanks so much for all your advice, it’s really helping me feel a bit better 🙂 I suppose the other option is to go on sick leave with stress for a few weeks to at least get sleep etc. but I really don’t want that on my sick record. Incidentally there are 2 people already on long term sick in my work area and whilst I don’t know for definite that’s it’s stress related i suspect it is

OP posts:

UpendedPineapple · 15/04/2022 18:28

I'm a 6 by the way, so have supported 7's in the past.

Original poster

HateMyJob12345 · 15/04/2022 18:29

Thanks upended, good advice. I have thought about asking for a change of line manager but not sure it’s really possible with my team structure

OP posts:

SalterScales · 15/04/2022 20:31

Fellow CS here. Is this the first time your line manager has brought up the issue? Has he been carrying out monthly conversations with you and documenting them? If so, I would ask what's changed with your performance all of a sudden that he's raising it now - people generally don't start failing to perform overnight.

nonevernotever · 15/04/2022 21:52

I'm also a g 7 and from what you've said I suspect you are right that your manager is struggling with their workload, possibly feels inadequate and is deflecting all of that on to you. I also suspect that the timing so close to eyr time is no coincidence and they're (belatedly) trying to prepare the ground for their review by trying to throw you under the bus. I was bullied by my g6 in my last post and didn't realize just how bad it had got until I got out. Others have given you good advice re Union, asking for work plan etc. I think in your shoes I would pull out my objectives, my work programme and any evidence I had of good performance over the year (I keep an email folder where I stash every email complimenting me on completed work (even if they're just saying thank you or ministers/senior manager s signing off on my recommendations) because it's really easy to forget what you have done successfully when you're focused on delivering the next thing) and ask for a meeting to discuss their plan for helping you recover to your normal excellent performance. I would go into that meeting with the intention of controlling it as far as possible (even if I had to spend the night before roleplaying it with my husband/friends/trusted colleague) and playing it completely straight bat while not making it easy for them. I'd be aiming to remind them of my normal excellent performance, the range of work I'd tackled successfully, I'd be evidencing the ramping up of work over the last six months, and then I'd be telling them that I was obviously really concerned about any suggestion that I was underperforming, particularly so late in the year when there had been no suggestion of this previously and asking them to explain their plan for helping me develop. If possible, I'd also be tempted to ask them which tasks on my list they would like me to prioritise since the full work programme is of course not realistic. I would make sure that the meeting was properly recorded, and I would write the note myself to ensure that it reflected the points I had made in the discussion. And then I would be putting all of my energy into applying for other posts.

GinPalace2 · 15/04/2022 22:44

@nonevernotever has some brilliant advice.

I would also be very suspicious of the timing. I assume your appraisal year is 1 April to 31 March. Telling you this week means he cannot use it in your 2021/22 appraisal or to impact your rating. Feedback must be timely and give you an opportunity to address it. I strongly suspect your manager has been in a standard setting/moderation meeting and has realised they might need to give you/someone a lower rating.

I would pre-empt your appraisal by doing as pp suggested and gathering evidence of your performance. If you start to get negative (constructive) feedback, push back and state this can’t be taken into account for 2021/22 as it’s the first time I’ve heard about it.

Insist on a separate setting up meeting for your 2022/23 appraisal (make sure it happens promptly) where you agree your objectives for this year. As part of this identify areas for development and what input you will receive from your manager.

Hawkins001 · 15/04/2022 23:27

Slightly off topic, but in the corridors of influence and power, does any one build J Edgar Hoover style folders these days ?