Page 2 | To consider a Grade 7 CS post in my current situation?

SeekingCivil · 2022-12-29T11:12:39+00:00

DH and I work full time with two children at two different secondary schools (KS3) because they’ve different needs. I work over 4 days, DH 5, with many hours unpaid overtime, getting ready for a professional qualification and we have absolutely no family support. DH works in a busy private environment and my work is with a local authority so peaks and troughs. I’m bored with my current post and have spotted some vacancies at grade 7 that would be ideal as my next step up. I’m concerned about the expectations at that level though. If I have to do my hours or even only a couple of hours per week, I’d manage. However I have a friend who is a grade 7 and she seems to do more than 12 hour days 5 days a week. Constantly. If you’re grade 7, is this your reality? Granted, she works in IT and my role would be in a different field but I just wanted to get a feel for the reality of a grade 7 role. I’d be willing to do 5 day weeks I know that it’s not a given I would get the role and it would be useful, even if as interview experience but I dont want to spend time applying if the reality is anything like that. My family doesn’t deserve that.

Polarbearyfairy · 29/12/2022 18:14

I'm a G6 at the mo. I had 2 G7 posts and they were very different - one was in a very high profile time sensitive policy area and was stay til it gets done, theoretically you can have the time back but there's never time for that.... the second was never more than standard working hours.

It depends so much on the department, the work area, not all G7 jobs are made equal! Before you accept a role ask questions about the way it works in that particular team. Anything that's described in the job ad as "high ministerial priority" or "flagship government policy" is highly likely to be a high pressure melting pot of miserable extra hours under extreme scrutiny - I avoid those like the plague these days, although they look good on the CV.

It also depends a lot on the person - two of my three G7s seem to think they are absolutely indispensable and work all the hours god sends and don't take the time back despite me pressing them to. Their workloads don't require it, I've no idea what they spend the extra time on to be honest. You can lead a horse to water and all that, I speak to them about it at least once a month but they never change. One of them thinks this is how you show you are going "above and beyond", but it is not.

I work what looks like a lot of extra hours because I travel a lot (and often get landed with extra projects I can't decline and are genuinely additional to my formal workload) but I also take the time back, so I've had 2 out of 3 weeks off at Xmas as TOIL. I find that's easier than trying to work a shorter week or take the odd day off here and there, I'm lucky our policy (and my manager!) allows that tho.

Original poster

SeekingCivil · 31/12/2022 20:16

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 29/12/2022 17:16

For me, in very busy times, I'll not do more than 4-5 hours extra a week which I will log as flexi. I don't do it for free! I do have colleagues (SEOs and G7s) who will work until late evening or cancel their days off. That's never been at the behest of the G6 though who has definitely never asked any of us to do that. Like the poster said above, it can be a personal rather than a grade expectation.

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This is very similar to how my department is currently, and I think I’m concerned about the possibility of being required to work lots of hours for free. I remember my friend’s department didn’t operate flexi time for G7 and above but they changed that not long after she got her promotion a few years ago.

OP posts:

Original poster

SeekingCivil · 31/12/2022 20:18

101dalmatians · 29/12/2022 17:25

I’m a 7 and I work compressed hours, taking a NWD every Friday. Naturally this means I work longer days, and I do occasionally pick up work on a Friday or work later in the evening if I’m particularly busy. I do feel pressure to do this, as I work almost exclusively with senior civil servants/their offices, and they expect things to get done. However, the flip side to this is that in a quieter week I’ll log off slightly earlier or take a longer lunch break, so there is still scope for flexibility.

Does your department allow flexitime for G7 and above?

My NWD is the same as yours and what you have written resonates with me in my current role.

OP posts:

Original poster

SeekingCivil · 31/12/2022 20:28

Polarbearyfairy · 29/12/2022 18:14

I'm a G6 at the mo. I had 2 G7 posts and they were very different - one was in a very high profile time sensitive policy area and was stay til it gets done, theoretically you can have the time back but there's never time for that.... the second was never more than standard working hours.

It depends so much on the department, the work area, not all G7 jobs are made equal! Before you accept a role ask questions about the way it works in that particular team. Anything that's described in the job ad as "high ministerial priority" or "flagship government policy" is highly likely to be a high pressure melting pot of miserable extra hours under extreme scrutiny - I avoid those like the plague these days, although they look good on the CV.

It also depends a lot on the person - two of my three G7s seem to think they are absolutely indispensable and work all the hours god sends and don't take the time back despite me pressing them to. Their workloads don't require it, I've no idea what they spend the extra time on to be honest. You can lead a horse to water and all that, I speak to them about it at least once a month but they never change. One of them thinks this is how you show you are going "above and beyond", but it is not.

I work what looks like a lot of extra hours because I travel a lot (and often get landed with extra projects I can't decline and are genuinely additional to my formal workload) but I also take the time back, so I've had 2 out of 3 weeks off at Xmas as TOIL. I find that's easier than trying to work a shorter week or take the odd day off here and there, I'm lucky our policy (and my manager!) allows that tho.

Those are very good pointers@Polarbearyfairy . I’ll bear them in mind, thank you!

Your post about the G7s made me chuckle. We reallocated resources to give him a better work/life balance and guess what? He manages to still work the same hours!

Really helpful tips. Thanks to everyone who has replied.

A happy new year to you all.

OP posts:

scooby26 · 09/06/2023 01:17

I’ve been looking at a G7 civil service post and there’s a salary range- can anyone help with how wide the range is- ie how many years til the top of range?

also - am I made to consider moving across to CS at age 46?!

Sunnierjim · 09/06/2023 08:07

You are not mad, I moved into the CS at 43 and I don't regret it! But..... Forget the range they shouldn't use them as they are basically worthless. You get the government mandated payrise each year, but there is no going up the range as such for long service, or good performance. I really don't understand why they still use them in advertising. Standard CS behaviour is to get a new starter on the bottom of what's advertised, unless you have a good case for higher range placement, but I think that's pretty unusual.

scooby26 · 09/06/2023 11:35

Sunnierjim · 09/06/2023 08:07

You are not mad, I moved into the CS at 43 and I don't regret it! But..... Forget the range they shouldn't use them as they are basically worthless. You get the government mandated payrise each year, but there is no going up the range as such for long service, or good performance. I really don't understand why they still use them in advertising. Standard CS behaviour is to get a new starter on the bottom of what's advertised, unless you have a good case for higher range placement, but I think that's pretty unusual.

Thanks kindly- maybe a non starter then on bottom of range