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
Treasury gets departments to meet evaluation commitments without sanctions
05 Dec Analysis
Treasury gets departments to meet evaluation commitments without sanctions
MoD doubles payment to harassment victims over four years
05 Dec Security & Defence
MoD doubles payment to harassment victims over four years
MPs back Doug Chalmers as new Committee on Standards in Public Life chair
05 Dec HR
MPs back Doug Chalmers as new Committee on Standards in Public Life chair
‘Toxic’ culture at MoD: Sixty female senior civil servants complain to perm sec
17 Nov Civil Service Reform
‘Toxic’ culture at MoD: Sixty female senior civil servants complain to perm sec
Reports of women being “propositioned”, “groped” and “touched repeatedly”
MoJ wins planning wrangle over new prison
17 Nov Justice & Home Affairs
MoJ wins planning wrangle over new prison
Gove overrules inspector to approve 1,715-capacity facility in Leicestershire
Home Office working on new Rwanda treaty after Supreme Court ruling
16 Nov Justice & Home Affairs
Home Office working on new Rwanda treaty after Supreme Court ruling
Sunak says he is also "prepared to revisit our domestic legal frameworks"
Defra pay-flexibility case gets green light – but staff warned Christmas payment will be 'tight' Exclusive
16 Nov HR
Defra pay-flexibility case gets green light – but staff warned Christmas payment will be 'tight'
Perm secs promise to do "everything" possible to get pay rises in December pay cheques
Government rejects call to share more fraud intel, saying it 'could increase fraud threat'
16 Nov Civil Service Reform
Government rejects call to share more fraud intel, saying it 'could increase fraud threat'
Treasury and Cabinet Office refuse MPs' request for annual fraud intelligence report
Strikes: DBT publishes minimum service levels 'code of practice' for unions
16 Nov HR
Strikes: DBT publishes minimum service levels 'code of practice' for unions
Draft code removes "onerous" requirement for unions to communicate with their wider membership that a work notice has been issued
Supreme Court dismisses government's Rwanda appeal
15 Nov Justice & Home Affairs
Supreme Court dismisses government's Rwanda appeal
Sunak says his government will "consider next steps" after its Rwanda immigration plan was ruled unlawful once more
EXCL: Civil servants to be told to spend 60% of time in offices Exclusive
15 Nov HR
EXCL: Civil servants to be told to spend 60% of time in offices
"Expectation of increased office-based working" will mean senior managers and early-career officials should spend extra time in offices, internal memo says
Departments urged to ensure data programmes are backed in next spending review
15 Nov Digital, Data & Technology
Departments urged to ensure data programmes are backed in next spending review
ONS data chief flags up importance of building support for initiatives into funding bids
DWP should hire 30,000 more staff to tackle 'chronic shortages', union says
15 Nov HR
DWP should hire 30,000 more staff to tackle 'chronic shortages', union says
"Unacceptably low" staffing is damaging employees' wellbeing and service delivery, according to PCS
Concerns over FCDO scrutiny after Cameron named foreign secretary
14 Nov Foreign Affairs
Concerns over FCDO scrutiny after Cameron named foreign secretary
Peer and former PM will be unable to take questions from elected MPs in the House of Commons
Maude: Appoint chief functional officers to tackle 'diluted authority and mandate'
14 Nov Civil Service Reform
Maude: Appoint chief functional officers to tackle 'diluted authority and mandate'
Perm sec-level officials should lead push to streamline and strengthen digital, HR, commercial and other functions, review finds
Reshuffle: John Glen named Cabinet Office minister
14 Nov Civil Service Reform
Reshuffle: John Glen named Cabinet Office minister
Esther McVey also joins Cabinet Office as minister without portfolio
Union floats prospect of new civil service-wide strike ballot
14 Nov HR
Union floats prospect of new civil service-wide strike ballot
PCS says decision will be taken next month after further pay talks with Cabinet Office
Maude review: PM should get sign-off on DG appointments
13 Nov Civil Service Reform
Maude review: PM should get sign-off on DG appointments
Ministers should play a bigger role in appointing civil servants and be able to sack senior officials, governance review recommends
Cabinet reshuffle latest: Cleverly home secretary, Braverman sacked, Cameron returns
13 Nov Foreign Affairs
Cabinet reshuffle latest: Cleverly home secretary, Braverman sacked, Cameron returns
Former PM to head FCDO as home secretary's dismissal prompts major overhaul of Rishi Sunak's cabinet
Braverman sacked as home secretary after policing row
13 Nov HR
Braverman sacked as home secretary after policing row
Suella Braverman's departure follows a string of controversies and criticism of criticism of civil servants
Defra morale ‘through the floor’ as pay-flexibility case delay holds up pay rise Exclusive
13 Nov Energy & Environment
Defra morale ‘through the floor’ as pay-flexibility case delay holds up pay rise
Defra staff lose hope of getting 2023-24 pay rise before Christmas, with Treasury and Cabinet Office yet to sign off on pay-flex case
Alex Chisholm to leave Cabinet Office in the spring
13 Nov HR
Alex Chisholm to leave Cabinet Office in the spring
Permanent secretary and civil service chief operating officer will step down after four years at the department
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – November 13
13 Nov HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – November 13
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People
Covid Inquiry: Home Office had ‘no capability’ to delay arrival of pandemic, Patel says
10 Nov Coronavirus
Covid Inquiry: Home Office had ‘no capability’ to delay arrival of pandemic, Patel says
Former home secretary tells hearing scientists advised border checks would have “minimal impact” on virus spread in early 2020
Northern Ireland heading for £1bn overspend
10 Nov Corporate Finance
Northern Ireland heading for £1bn overspend
'Fair' public sector pay awards set to add £590m to overspend, Department of Finance perm sec says
Loss of government statisticians ‘is a worry’, MPs told
10 Nov Analysis
Loss of government statisticians ‘is a worry’, MPs told
Departments may struggle to retain key officials amid demand for skills, experts warn
'I am v v cautious about walking back into this': Case deterred from Covid job by 'behaviours' in No.10
09 Nov Coronavirus
'I am v v cautious about walking back into this': Case deterred from Covid job by 'behaviours' in No.10
"I will not work for Dom," Simon Case told cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill, who was frustrated with spad's “divide and rule” approach