To wonder why the Civil Service is so worshipped?

[Babysonfire12345]

I definitely understand that the pension is one of the best out there.
However, flexi is offered elsewhere, WFH is offered elsewhere. I can't think of a single other benefit.
It's not even necessarily a 'job for life', there are redundancies. Pay is really low for AO-HEO grades for what is expected.
I don't see the appeal of it except for the pension, what am I missing?

I guess it varies from department to department but opportunities for development and training, scope for moving sideways as well as up, pretty high job security.

DS has gone from AA through the grades and is currently a G6. He’s done loads of really interesting training including a fully funded MA, various qualifications that are transferable. And yes, good pension etc. and his salary is decent (not great, but not terrible).

I’ve literally never heard of anyone worshipping the civil service. IME people think it’s somewhere you go and work when you can’t work anywhere better 😂😭 like a local authority. Def not an employer of choice.

The work boards on here are full of people trying to get into the civil service!

I personally love being a civil servant, I guess public service is where i’m at and I have very rewarding career. It’s not for everyone.

I work with a lot of civil servants- they generally enjoy their jobs, find it intellectually stimulating, are quite often interested in politics generally and feel like they're doing valuable work.

Things may have changed but when my friend went into yrs ago she had the amazing pension, annual increments, annual pay rises, great maternity package, maternity return bonus, flexi time, could reduce her hours without it affecting career progression & a very good work/life balance. The rest of us in the private sector were pretty amazed! But I think things have evened up a bit.

I like being a civil servant but it does have it's awful moments especially in the last few years. it's hard when the people you're working for are constantly bad mouthing you to the press. Saying that there are a lot of opportunities.

I know tonnes of teachers dying to get into the civil service. i've helped four of them secure jobs with feedback on applications and interview practice. all four went back to teaching within two years! maybe a coincidence but think its a case of the grass is always greener

Also good when you don’t fit the “desirable” profile for the private sector - one of DH’s colleagues moved to the civil service when she noticed younger, less experienced men being employed over her (IT contractor - sector notoriously likes to employ young men over 50-something women). DH still works in the sector but has also noticed it’s harder to find work in your 50s, unless you are in management.

I also know people who moved to the BBC for similar reasons - less likely to be managed out for being middle aged.

Maybe they don’t have many other options

6 months full pay 6 months half pay for sickness. Better than average maternity/paternity leave. Special leave policy covering child illness. Good Annual Leave. Options for progression are good if you are interested. A chance to actually influence the governing of Britain instead of just moaning about it.

Yes! a teacher is actually exactly the profile of person I would imagine to be desperate to get into CS- a vocation and limited transferable skills, a crap workplace they’re trying to get away form

I love working for the Civil Service. Great pension, WFH, good annual leave/sick policies, OK pay. I’m an SEO so fairly well paid but there’s alway room for improvement 😜 I worked for a charity for 3 months on NMW after taking voluntary redundancy from the NHS (again, loved it) and it was awful. Rubbish pay, crap holiday/sick policies and seem to work harder there than I do now in a professional job 🤷‍♀️

Hmmmm, not sure ‘worshipped’ is what I hear about CS roles! I’d say the pros vary hugely by role and department but in general:

• massive potential for internal change and/or promotion - once you are in, it’s easy to look at shadowing/secondment/‘acting up’ to progress your career or go in a different direction. The civil service is good about finding training and mentoring
• greater flexibility than I’ve seen in private sector roles, esp Ito family friendly hours and work practices
• in some areas, real respect and valuing of different experiences; genuine approach to ensuring accessibility of access and promotion (eg for ND staff; staff with disabilities; staff with caring responsibilities)
• ability to try and do real good; and act with integrity to support vulnerable people. Often ‘unsung’ but very meaningful work; albeit within constraints

Not everywhere has flexi working and wfh though. The private sector seems to be increasingly heading back to the office.

It’s not necessarily a job life in that there are redundancies but if there are redundancies you are first in line internally. There are opportunities to progress and move around. You can very easily spend your entire career in the civil service, even if your role is made redundant.

There is generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave. There is good annual leave entitlement. It’s usually easier to get a flexible working request approved or to reduce your hours or job share.

Pension is a big one though. The pension is why I would head into the civil service.

Quality of life. Depends on the department of course... but have worked in one, DH still does (35 years and counting)

Annual leave tomorrow? Sure.
Mum is ill, see you Friday? Take the time you need.
Flexi hours? Yep.
Year off maternity? No probs.
Support PhD study? Absolutely.
Extra week leave for long service? Yep.
I'm taking 2 weeks annual leave over Christmas.? Ok
Didn't use all my leave, can I bank it for next year? Sure.
Time out for charity work? Sounds great, what do you need...

When I retired (55) I worked in a shop a couple of mornings... omg the real world sucks...

My friend has great annual leave and sickness too.

Which CS jobs are you referring out of interest? Local government/ operational roles or policy/delivery roles? I’ve worked with some incredibly bright people in a variety of roles across Whitehall who would have plenty of options elsewhere.

for me, there are issues of course, but the pension, genuine flexibility, and 9 months full mat pay have been brilliant.

and they paid for her degree.

Oh, and the chance to work on really interesting important stuff: which genuinely makes a difference to people.

Nothing specific

the last person I worked with who had been in CS summed it up quite well- “I quickly, as anyone who is good in the CS does, ended up directing a department of 300 people”

It used to be seen as a job for life - and progression used to possible for people with little or no qualifications.

so many parents encouraged their children to take a safe civil service job. Certainly in my parents generation.

Flexi time, great pension, stuck in the early 80s, easy life, good terms and conditions, never sack anyone, easy to stand out amongst some of the dinosaurs they employ.

whats not to worship.

I temped in the home office after uni. They actually asked me to slow down! They asked me if I was interested in a job but I was so bored I didn't give it a second thought. perhaps that was a mistake'

I don’t work in the CS, but elsewhere in the public sector. Something that no one else seems to have mentioned, I want to work in the CS/public sector because I do not want to work in a job driven by profit or others making money.

The pension is miles better. The hours are often better, yes most places offer flexi but the public sector is usually more flexible. There is often less pressure and the pace is usually slower. Yes there's redundancies occasionally but it's still generally a safer bet than private. Schools, hospitals, local gov, central gov etc are always going to be there whatever happens whereas private companies disappear regularly. There's often less commute, (eg if you work in schools, hospital, local gov - there will always be a near one whereas if you're a specialist in the private sector, potential employers may be on the other side of the country). There tends to be greater flexibility around sickness. The gap between public and private sector pay is nowhere near as big as it used to be. Some surveys suggests there is now parity in parts of the civil service. Certainly when you add in the value of pensions and other benefits, there is sometimes little between the two financially. Parts of the public sector, particularly local gov, have developed hugely in terms of sophistication and efficiency so it is no longer full of dinosaurs.

There will always be exceptions to the above but, in the main, it's a very good place to work. I would absolutely recommend it to kids at the beginning of their career. ('Worship' is a strong word though!).