What's the point? (Civil Service)

[Paintmybathroom]

In volunteering to take on extra responsibilities when it's not going to be rewarded in terms of pay/promotions?

Having joined the Civil Service from private practice I'm struggling to get my head around this - in industry you obviously want to be well thought of when your boss is looking at bonuses/promotions, but that isn't a factor here when you've got to go through an interview panel with colleagues you don't know everytime you want to change role (and no chance of any bonus above a £20 gift voucher 😆).

Things like mentoring juniors, running training sessions, testing new programmes etc that are outside of your job role and add to your daily workload.

Do people do it because they need the competency experience? Or just for the greater good of the department?

I generally just want to go in, do my work and keep my head down, but don't want to look unprofessional.

I do some extra stuff because I find it interesting and satisfying.

I don't do anything for free. Anything at all, for anybody.

I love and look after my family though.

I completely agree OP. All of this corporate contribution BS is just trying to get unpaid work out of people. I never put my hand up.

We get paid or TOIL for any extra hours we do outside of core.

ime if people take on extra responsibilities it’s either because they want to, they’re looking for ways to make the job easier/better, or they have an eye on promotions.

we have someone who’s developed a “side gig” which is appreciated by management. She’s barely in the office doing her core work, she’s off round the country doing seminars and workshops. We have no doubt she’ll either be promoted, a new role created for her, or will find some amazing high paid role with one of our client companies.

It's the same when people used to do TDA at a higher grade, then a round of promotions would come round and they didn't get the job. I worked in internal recruitment in civil service and often had phone calls from people and their managers upset as to why they didn't get a job they've been doing very well at via TDA and instead someone in their team got it over them.