Spectator - Christmas Crossword -...
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I Remember During Thatcher's Time In Office An Executive From Sainsbury's, I Think, Was Brought In To Try And...
...try and find economies in the civil service. It seems this government is making plans for massive cuts. Reports say more than 91,000 may go.
Why is the civil service always the whipping boy?
An example, the passport office is under heavy pressure. It seems they could do with more staff rather than less.
Why is the civil service always the whipping boy?
An example, the passport office is under heavy pressure. It seems they could do with more staff rather than less.
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//But are you really saying the whole civil service is failing because of 5 stories.//
I don't have the time to study every government department. The ones I have chosen I have picked deliberately because their inefficiencies are having a profound effect on many people's lives. As well as that, they are not intended to be single anecdotes about one or two examples that may have gone awry. They explain that there is symptomatic failure on a large scale.
//You do realise there is not the office space for everyone to work in the office?
In my department alone there is 4 desks for 10 staff that is utterly stupid//
I'm not trying to find explanations. I'm simply pointing out that many facets of the Civil Service simply don't work and they are causing mass inconvenience. As an example, when one applies for a passport renewal, the old passport has to be surrendered before processing on the replacement will begin. This means people may be unable to travel for up to ten weeks or often more. Your acceptance that the passport office fails every year simply confirms my contention.
// the government have let out office space in our nice new building to other government departments cutting desks even further.//
The government does not manage the day to day affairs of the Civil Service. Senior Civil Servants do. They are not loathe to defy the government when it suits them - they have been told to return to their offices and many have flatly refused. There is no reason to suspect that they have succumbed to government orders about property when they have probably taken the decision themselves.
Although this thread is about Civil Service numbers, inefficiencies and poor customer service are not restricted to government offices. Much of the private sector has also sunk into a torpor following the pandemic. A week or so ago I spent just under an hour holding on the phone to get an answer from a large tour company. My call was "important to them." It was pretty important to me too as there was a problem with a large payment I had made. A few minutes into our conversation I was asked by the agent if I would hold on as it had begun raining and she had to get the washing in from the garden. I gave her the choice of continuing with my enquiry or taking the risk of someone from on high descending upon her to discuss her "customer care" capabilities. She continued the call.
I don't have the time to study every government department. The ones I have chosen I have picked deliberately because their inefficiencies are having a profound effect on many people's lives. As well as that, they are not intended to be single anecdotes about one or two examples that may have gone awry. They explain that there is symptomatic failure on a large scale.
//You do realise there is not the office space for everyone to work in the office?
In my department alone there is 4 desks for 10 staff that is utterly stupid//
I'm not trying to find explanations. I'm simply pointing out that many facets of the Civil Service simply don't work and they are causing mass inconvenience. As an example, when one applies for a passport renewal, the old passport has to be surrendered before processing on the replacement will begin. This means people may be unable to travel for up to ten weeks or often more. Your acceptance that the passport office fails every year simply confirms my contention.
// the government have let out office space in our nice new building to other government departments cutting desks even further.//
The government does not manage the day to day affairs of the Civil Service. Senior Civil Servants do. They are not loathe to defy the government when it suits them - they have been told to return to their offices and many have flatly refused. There is no reason to suspect that they have succumbed to government orders about property when they have probably taken the decision themselves.
Although this thread is about Civil Service numbers, inefficiencies and poor customer service are not restricted to government offices. Much of the private sector has also sunk into a torpor following the pandemic. A week or so ago I spent just under an hour holding on the phone to get an answer from a large tour company. My call was "important to them." It was pretty important to me too as there was a problem with a large payment I had made. A few minutes into our conversation I was asked by the agent if I would hold on as it had begun raining and she had to get the washing in from the garden. I gave her the choice of continuing with my enquiry or taking the risk of someone from on high descending upon her to discuss her "customer care" capabilities. She continued the call.
It's only fairly recently that the likes of British Gas has stopped using "due to Covid..." in the recorded message before being put through to somebody who's WFH, with their dog yapping in the background, and you're interrupting their Netflix viewing. Yes I'm exaggerating to make a point, but it's (in my experience) a fair point.
People who say they're more productive at home, do so to convince themselves they are.
People who say they're more productive at home, do so to convince themselves they are.
There was a vogue about getting tesco's managers in, to run the NHS. Famous for such two liners like
1.why cant that doctor do an appendix on a sick three year old?
2. because he is a psychiatrist
and also for recommending juniors training should be very broad and yet at the same time very specialised and deep - and in four years
1.why cant that doctor do an appendix on a sick three year old?
2. because he is a psychiatrist
and also for recommending juniors training should be very broad and yet at the same time very specialised and deep - and in four years
Mrs JtH is employed by DWP and is currently carrying out what is known as 'blended working' - 2 days in the office and the remainder here at home inc. the odd Saturday.
She is conscientious, punctual and often works longer than her designated daily hours. All the workers are closely monitored by their immediate bosses to ensure that they meet their targets.
One of the immediate benefits of WFH has been that DWP have handed back at least one building and streamlined workers at 2 others thereby saving the public purse a hefty wedge in rent and the upkeep of buildings.
She is conscientious, punctual and often works longer than her designated daily hours. All the workers are closely monitored by their immediate bosses to ensure that they meet their targets.
One of the immediate benefits of WFH has been that DWP have handed back at least one building and streamlined workers at 2 others thereby saving the public purse a hefty wedge in rent and the upkeep of buildings.
Similar to me, JTH. We call it hybrid working, 2 days in, 3 days home. Anytime I'm away from my laptop for over 5-10 minutes is recorded as flexi taken. The jiggle mouse thing wouldn't work as I get check-ins from management on skype on a regular basis. Sometimes I feel I'm being micro-managed but you can understand the reasons why.
Tbh under non-covid circumstances I only need to go into the office to process uniform orders, hand-deliver items to colleagues and do regular stock takes. I manage the directorate uniform contract as a parent superuser.
Tbh under non-covid circumstances I only need to go into the office to process uniform orders, hand-deliver items to colleagues and do regular stock takes. I manage the directorate uniform contract as a parent superuser.
When Homeworking first started I was in a different job, one that involved a 2 hour stint per day talking to customers. Not once did I have to apologise for background noise etc, I was also caseworking pulling cases from the online files working it then sending the decision letter electronically.
I worked exactly the same way as I did in the office but longer hours.
Reports needed running each day, I used to do this as soon as I got into the office but as everyone was logging on earlier I started work at 5 am to ensure this was managed.
I received a promotion and now work in a team spread over 4 countries and all done online, never once has my manager had cause to question my work or my attendance quite the opposite in fact!
I worked exactly the same way as I did in the office but longer hours.
Reports needed running each day, I used to do this as soon as I got into the office but as everyone was logging on earlier I started work at 5 am to ensure this was managed.
I received a promotion and now work in a team spread over 4 countries and all done online, never once has my manager had cause to question my work or my attendance quite the opposite in fact!
Good for you Redhelen, but not everybody is as conscientious.
There are far too many people who have decided that WFH is convenient is it enables them to mould their home life around their work life, with the former (when they’re meant to be working) taking precedence I’ve learned the latter.
I’ve seen it, and those that were have screwed themselves because we now insist they’re in the office 5 days a week.
There are far too many people who have decided that WFH is convenient is it enables them to mould their home life around their work life, with the former (when they’re meant to be working) taking precedence I’ve learned the latter.
I’ve seen it, and those that were have screwed themselves because we now insist they’re in the office 5 days a week.
Well, I don't know where this will fit in with anything; but it's true, so I'll tell you.
My passport kindly expired in Feb. 2020. Since the world stopped in March 2020, I didn't bother renewing it until now.
On April 11th I took old passport into local main P.O. (Filey). For a small amount extra they did everything. They photographed me (to fit all the rules); took me through the form; filled it in electronically; took my money (£94) and that was that. I received my new passport on May 3rd.
So it can be done.
My passport kindly expired in Feb. 2020. Since the world stopped in March 2020, I didn't bother renewing it until now.
On April 11th I took old passport into local main P.O. (Filey). For a small amount extra they did everything. They photographed me (to fit all the rules); took me through the form; filled it in electronically; took my money (£94) and that was that. I received my new passport on May 3rd.
So it can be done.
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