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Original poster

How flexible have you found the civil service?

84 replies

Summertime10 · 27/01/2023 18:14

Hi everyone, I'm looking to join the civil service from teaching.
I have children so was wondering how family friendly and flexible you've found it to be please?
I understand there'll be departmental differences but I was just trying to get an overview before I commit to joining it.

It's an EO position I've been offered.

Thanks

OP posts:
RandomCatGenerator · 02/02/2023 12:06

Notplayingball · 27/01/2023 22:03

Have people in my street who work for CS. Both always seem to have time off during school holidays, do school runs.

Not sure how much work they actually do, as they just always seem to be there for school runs, every school event, etc.

I wouldn't call it full time work, but I used to work NHS which is the polar opposite with no flexibility at all 🤷

Not sure what amount of work they can squeeze in during 9 til 3. It's a very short window of time compared to other jobs if you include one hour lunch break.

Oh, bore off.

If I have to take time off during the day I make it up in the evening or at weekends.

Presenteeism, showing you’re at your desk constantly all day, doesn’t mean productivity.

RandomCatGenerator · 02/02/2023 12:07

Notplayingball · 27/01/2023 22:03

Have people in my street who work for CS. Both always seem to have time off during school holidays, do school runs.

Not sure how much work they actually do, as they just always seem to be there for school runs, every school event, etc.

I wouldn't call it full time work, but I used to work NHS which is the polar opposite with no flexibility at all 🤷

Not sure what amount of work they can squeeze in during 9 til 3. It's a very short window of time compared to other jobs if you include one hour lunch break.

Oh, bore off.

If I have to take time off during the day I make it up in the evening or at weekends.

Presenteeism, showing you’re at your desk constantly all day, doesn’t mean productivity.

RagingWoke · 02/02/2023 12:30

I'm in my 2nd CS position.
1st was sort of flexible in that it was remote with no need for office working but my direct manager was so focused on us all being 'visible' 9-5 it was stressful and I hated it.

2nd, and current, is a different department and it's so flexible. Non customer facing role, I do my hours (and more when needed) as and when. I can do school runs, be at school events etc and work around them. There is travel once every 2/3 months but in advance so I can plan for it. There are days where my work is done by 2pm and I log off, other days I'm still working in the evening. It balances well and flexitime is great for these days.

I wfh most of the time, no problem because the team is spread out so me sitting in an office alone is no different to being at home alone. my office days are meetings every couple of months although the option is there to go in whenever I want.
I'm sure some judgey folk will see me and assume I don't work much. I'd take flexibility to be present in my children's lives over sitting at a desk for the sake of it.

It does vary by department and team. Some will be more flexible than others, I ask the question at interview of what working patterns and flexibility is like.

TheSpottedZebra · 02/02/2023 12:36

Thanks RandomCatGenerator for very detailed reply!

Ive not actually encountered the term Civil Service National, so more googling required for me!

I do live in the south east so in theory I ought to be relatively near some offices but I don't seem to be. An HQ role would realistically add on 2.5 - 3 hrs per day which I no longer have the appetite for! Plus the associated costs involved of travel, parking and wrap around care would make the slightly lower salary not workable. That, plus the new joy of unexpected and frequent flooding that makes a commute fill me with dread Sad

I might be in dreamland hoping to find a predominantly wfh role. Lots seem to suggest 40% in office which is still too much for me!

TheSpottedZebra · 02/02/2023 12:38

RagingWoke · 02/02/2023 12:30

I'm in my 2nd CS position.
1st was sort of flexible in that it was remote with no need for office working but my direct manager was so focused on us all being 'visible' 9-5 it was stressful and I hated it.

2nd, and current, is a different department and it's so flexible. Non customer facing role, I do my hours (and more when needed) as and when. I can do school runs, be at school events etc and work around them. There is travel once every 2/3 months but in advance so I can plan for it. There are days where my work is done by 2pm and I log off, other days I'm still working in the evening. It balances well and flexitime is great for these days.

I wfh most of the time, no problem because the team is spread out so me sitting in an office alone is no different to being at home alone. my office days are meetings every couple of months although the option is there to go in whenever I want.
I'm sure some judgey folk will see me and assume I don't work much. I'd take flexibility to be present in my children's lives over sitting at a desk for the sake of it.

It does vary by department and team. Some will be more flexible than others, I ask the question at interview of what working patterns and flexibility is like.

That sounds interesting, thanks!
May I ask what dept/business area you're in?

Yes, the going in for 'face time' only to find no one else has, that day, is soul-destroying, isn't it?

MabelMoo23 · 02/02/2023 18:58

I’ve actually got an interview this coming week for CS - is it considered acceptable to ask about work pattern and flexibility in the interview?

I currently WFH full time at the moment and my understanding is that they are looking at being in the office 40 % of the time, which doesn’t actually bother me, but it depends on the work pattern and getting home to collect my children!!

i may not even get it as I’m not CS and I know there is a knack to getting a CS role especially with success profiles - but my current job for NHS is WFH full time but am bored to death and my pay is crap and I like the idea of a new challenge - but just need to endure I can get home to collect my children from wraparound care!

Ilikewinter · 02/02/2023 19:04

Ooh good luck with the interview!. Yeah I think its perfectly acceptable to ask about flexibility etc at interview.
Im in 40% office attendance. We have a fixed team day and can pick the second. I'd see if there are any core hours - mine are 10.30-2.30. Obviously will be different in different departments though.

RagingWoke · 02/02/2023 19:11

@MabelMoo23 absolutely! The interview is also your chance to make sure it's a good fit for you. There's usually a gap at the end where they ask if you have any questions so there's a natural time to ask.

@TheSpottedZebra procurement predominantly.

drunkornot · 02/02/2023 19:12

Personally I wouldn’t ask about flexibility at the interview stage in case the interviewer feels they can’t accommodate your request and reject you. Whereas, you have have more leeway by speaking directly with your new line manager once you’re successful.

Sawmiller · 02/02/2023 19:12

I started as an EO 20 years ago. Now a Grade 7. I work in HMRC and my kids were very young when I started. Very flexible hours. I used to start at 7am and leave at 3pm. No issue if I had to leave suddenly if I got a call that a kid was sick at school.

Great in terms of parental leave and you can accrue flexi as well.

Obviously depends on the job and the department.

MabelMoo23 · 02/02/2023 19:15

Thanks all. I do find WFH all the time incredibly isolating so I do actually like the idea of being in 2 days a week - but definitely not more than that. But my main concern is that my children can get picked up from after school club!

nca89 · 02/02/2023 19:16

I personally don't discuss flexibility until offer stage. It's a moot point until you've got the job. I always have a meeting after being offered a job to discuss the role and the conditions. If someone asked me as an interviewer about flexibility at interview stage I would just spout the official lines, but at offer stage when I want you to have the job is when we can have a more frank discussion. In my experience, the CS is more flexible unofficially than officially.

TimeToFlyNow · 02/02/2023 19:18

Notplayingball · 27/01/2023 22:03

Have people in my street who work for CS. Both always seem to have time off during school holidays, do school runs.

Not sure how much work they actually do, as they just always seem to be there for school runs, every school event, etc.

I wouldn't call it full time work, but I used to work NHS which is the polar opposite with no flexibility at all 🤷

Not sure what amount of work they can squeeze in during 9 til 3. It's a very short window of time compared to other jobs if you include one hour lunch break.

Well I do 3 8 hour days, I tend to drop off at breakfast club then pick up at 4.30 from after school club

I could start earlier though or work in the evenings if I wanted to, so today I started at 5.30 as I finished early tuesday , took a break to drop at school then finished in time for school pick up. I prefer starting early than working evenings 🤷‍♀️

And unless there's something I want to get done I only take the 20 minute break that i have to

Sewaccidentprone · 02/02/2023 19:20

Very much depends on the dept and role.

if customer based, then fixed hours are normal. Other depts can be very flexible around working hours, days worked, term time working etc.

my team has 1 term time worker (full time the rest of the time), 1 condensed hours works, so does 37 hrs over 4 1/2 days.

most people work some time in the office and time at home, though new starters are generally in the office every day for at least the first month.

when I first started in a different dept we had to start at 8.30, whereas now can work hours between 6.30am and 7pm (though have core hours)

TimeToFlyNow · 02/02/2023 19:22

I think it depends what department op, I know we do TT only but I didn't need it so haven't looked into it

I did choose how many hours I wanted to work and what days I wanted to do though and they had no problem with that

I do 24 hours over 3 days, 1 office day a week but they have been flexible with that when dgd was in hospital I was able to wfh all week and start early so I could help out with my other dgc in the afternoons

Whattheladybird · 02/02/2023 19:31

My department has only the tiniest of London offices. You can go (and are encouraged) in but it is split over quite a wide geography so even going in you’re not guaranteed to be working with colleagues.

extremely flexible. Within my team, we have all sorts of working patterns but: school runs, elderly caring responsibilities, lunchtime exercise classes- all accommodated. We’re not customer facing.

I would say it’s been a bit of an eye opener for me - people literally do their hours, and then finish. Even if there’s loads to do, there’s a crisis point - most people just log off then. Coming from a different background (higher education) where evenings were just seen as a different shift to get the stuff done you couldnt manage during the day, its taken some time to get used to.

LuciferRising · 02/02/2023 19:43

Joined as a G7 from a toxic private sector role 2 years ago and am now G6. WFH. Flexible. In return I put in the late nights where needed. Sometimes this can be for several weeks, and stressful, sometimes not.

MilitantFawcett · 02/02/2023 20:09

I’d say flexible hours. part-time, compressed hours things like that are more common and supported than in private sector.

My Dept has a policy of 40% of time in the office but my line manager is happy for me to wfh because she realises she gets a lot more out of me! So a lot of flexibility will come down to your team and manager. They might not be the ones interviewing you so asking at interview might not get you many answers.

I don’t really recognise the “working hours and no more”, that hasn’t been my experience at all, in over 20 years in CS but then I’ve always been in policy not operational. And in my Dept right now (one of the most committed and engaged I’ve ever worked in), I’d say morale is the lowest I’ve ever known it so that is beginning to change.

Mamabear5321 · 15/12/2023 09:04

Hi, sorry to jump on to this post. I have just been offered a l3/heo position with the insolvency department after over a decade of not working.
The job was advertised as fulltime/partime/flexible.
I have just been given a form to fill out regarding hours. Im not sure how forward i can be. Should i ask for 3 days, 4 days or just do full time? Im scared they will revoke the offer!
Any advice would be great.

Singleandproud · 15/12/2023 09:45

What are you capable of? Was there a health reason for not working for a decade or just caring responsibilities?
Personally I like flexible working and that fits around my family needs brilliantly.

Ilikewinter · 15/12/2023 10:34

Congratulations OP - I would ask for what you want, they won't retract your offer!. A collegue I work with changes his hours every year to work with his university time table!. They seem to be pretty flexible.

GroggyLegs · 15/12/2023 11:50

Congratulations @Mamabear5321 !

I would speak to your new line manager & see what the service needs, discuss what your ideal working hours would be & see if there's a compromise?

With any job, your best opportunity to get what you want is right at the start. It's much easier to take on more hours once your in post than reduce them.

My post was advertised as FT but I reduced to 29 hours (3 long, 1 shorter day) to fit my family & volunteering commitments and it's working well, particularly as it's so flexible.

RandomCatGenerator · 15/12/2023 12:33

GroggyLegs · 15/12/2023 11:50

Congratulations @Mamabear5321 !

I would speak to your new line manager & see what the service needs, discuss what your ideal working hours would be & see if there's a compromise?

With any job, your best opportunity to get what you want is right at the start. It's much easier to take on more hours once your in post than reduce them.

My post was advertised as FT but I reduced to 29 hours (3 long, 1 shorter day) to fit my family & volunteering commitments and it's working well, particularly as it's so flexible.

Yes this - speak to your line manager and see what they want, and see if it aligns with your needs.

ChevyCamaro · 15/12/2023 12:42

You can get 6 months full pay if you are sick.
This is not true and hasn't been since (I think) 2012.
Sick pay goes up in steps according to length of service and is worked out over a rolling 4 year period.

youveturnedupwelldone · 15/12/2023 13:41

@Mamabear5321

Is it an examiner role? If so, the qualification is brutal and people really struggle with doing it part time (and often full time!)