EXCL: DWP civil servants describe ‘unbearable’ workloads amid ‘all-time low staffing’ levels Exclusive
04 Dec HR

EXCL: DWP civil servants describe ‘unbearable’ workloads amid ‘all-time low staffing’ levels

Pressures causing Department for Work and Pensions officials to skip breaks, work long hours and "leave in droves" or take long-term sick leave
by Tevye Markson
Latest civil service and public affairs moves – December 4
04 Dec HR
Latest civil service and public affairs moves – December 4
Civil service gender pay gap narrows – but Cabinet Office bucks the trend
04 Dec HR
Civil service gender pay gap narrows – but Cabinet Office bucks the trend
Covid Inquiry: Social care structures made care home response difficult, Hancock says
01 Dec Coronavirus
Covid Inquiry: Social care structures made care home response difficult, Hancock says
Cummings was a ‘malign actor’, Hancock tells Covid Inquiry
01 Dec Coronavirus
Cummings was a ‘malign actor’, Hancock tells Covid Inquiry
Former health secretary says No.10 needs to be capable of operating effectively even when “unprofessional” individuals have significant power
MPs sound alarm on DWP’s £1bn Health Transformation Programme
01 Dec Digital, Data & Technology
MPs sound alarm on DWP’s £1bn Health Transformation Programme
New service for disability-benefit claimants faces “significant risks” that have derailed other major projects, Public Accounts Committee says
'Government Digital and Data' brand launched, alongside 'clearer path' to specialist roles
01 Dec Digital, Data & Technology
'Government Digital and Data' brand launched, alongside 'clearer path' to specialist roles
Brand represents "first ever community leading digital transformation in government", Cabinet Office says
Cutting civil service jobs could make pay 'less of an issue', says Maude
30 Nov Civil Service Reform
Cutting civil service jobs could make pay 'less of an issue', says Maude
"I would rather have a civil service that is leaner," former Cabinet Office minister says
Hancock: Whitehall took too long to realise pandemic was a cross-government crisis
30 Nov Coronavirus
Hancock: Whitehall took too long to realise pandemic was a cross-government crisis
Former health secretary tells Covid Inquiry he and DHSC were victims of a “toxic culture” of blame
Two in five civil servants mull exit over 60% in-office mandate
30 Nov Civil Service Reform
Two in five civil servants mull exit over 60% in-office mandate
Thousands tell union survey hybrid working has made them more productive
More than 1,000 HMRC staff at risk of losing annual leave over managerial bungle
30 Nov HR
More than 1,000 HMRC staff at risk of losing annual leave over managerial bungle
PCS says the department is punishing staff for the mistakes of bosses
Social care needs more attention in pandemic preparation, Harries tells Covid Inquiry
29 Nov Health & Social Care
Social care needs more attention in pandemic preparation, Harries tells Covid Inquiry
UK Health and Security Agency chief says there needs to be “much better” systematic planning for how to support people with social care needs during infectious outbreaks
Home Office vetoes MPs' request to attend immigration inspection
29 Nov Justice & Home Affairs
Home Office vetoes MPs' request to attend immigration inspection
Request to accompany borders watchdog was denied to "preserve the independence of the inspectorate", select committee told
NAO: Cabinet Office should do more to stop departments competing for the same staff
29 Nov Civil Service Reform
NAO: Cabinet Office should do more to stop departments competing for the same staff
NAO says centre of government should get a grip on pay-differentials and recruitment costs
Calls for major productivity improvements are ‘ludicrous’ warns union chief
29 Nov Economy
Calls for major productivity improvements are ‘ludicrous’ warns union chief
Prospect general secretary says suggestion departments can cover funding shortfalls with new efficiencies is not credible
'Too much was asked' of DHSC in early Covid response, Gove tells inquiry
28 Nov Coronavirus
'Too much was asked' of DHSC in early Covid response, Gove tells inquiry
Can-do spirit was "admirable" but more departments should have been brought into the Covid response sooner, Gove says
Departments need ‘significant’ productivity improvements, OBR chair warns
28 Nov Economy
Departments need ‘significant’ productivity improvements, OBR chair warns
Watchdog “doesn’t know” whether the government’s spending plans are plausible or not
MoD creates more routes for officials to raise safety concerns following review
28 Nov Security & Defence
MoD creates more routes for officials to raise safety concerns following review
Department outlines steps taken to address systematic and institutional issues raised in Ajax Lessons Learned Review
Simon Case won't appear at Covid Inquiry this year
27 Nov HR
Simon Case won't appear at Covid Inquiry this year
Baroness Hallet approves request for cabinet secretary to postpone giving oral evidence as concerns grow over temporary setup in his absence
Proposed law could enable departments to prevent people deleting digital data
27 Nov Digital, Data & Technology
Proposed law could enable departments to prevent people deleting digital data
Powers proposed by the Home Office could affect the National Crime Agency, HMRC and the Serious Fraud Office
Cultural differences pitched civil servants against academics, Angela McLean tells Covid Inquiry
27 Nov Coronavirus
Cultural differences pitched civil servants against academics, Angela McLean tells Covid Inquiry
Chief scientific adviser had to “paper over the cracks” after direct criticism from scientists ruffled officials’ feathers
Outsourced staff at three departments begin strike action
27 Nov HR
Outsourced staff at three departments begin strike action
PCS urges improvement on ISS's 2.2% pay offer
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – November 27
27 Nov HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – November 27
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People
Capita regains management of Civil Service Pension Scheme
24 Nov Finance
Capita regains management of Civil Service Pension Scheme
Company wins £239m contract to manage scheme it ran until being replaced by MyCSP in 2014
HMRC under fire for ‘utterly extraordinary’ decisions on Making Tax Digital
24 Nov Digital, Data & Technology
HMRC under fire for ‘utterly extraordinary’ decisions on Making Tax Digital
MPs demand greater transparency after billions of pounds in transitional costs for customers were excluded from business cases
HMPPS says ‘lessons have been learned’ as Serco and G4S bag electronic monitoring contracts
24 Nov Digital, Data & Technology
HMPPS says ‘lessons have been learned’ as Serco and G4S bag electronic monitoring contracts
Deals worth up to £450m come almost a decade after firms admitted overcharging government to the tune of £170m
Ministers name choice for next Committee on Standards in Public Life chief
24 Nov HR
Ministers name choice for next Committee on Standards in Public Life chief
Army veteran Doug Chalmers set to succeed Jonathan Evans in watchdog role
Pay driving a third of experienced civil servants to consider leaving, survey finds
23 Nov Civil Service Reform
Pay driving a third of experienced civil servants to consider leaving, survey finds
“It is not feasible to stay in a career in which your pay is falling in real terms every year”