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Hi folks,
Will nail my colours to mast straight away - am a civil servant and quite happy with my situation. I am in the office at nine, take 30 mins lunch and leave between 5.30 and 6. In 3.5 years working here, have taken 1 sick day (after twisting my ankle playing football). I get 23 days A/L, but have never managed to actually take it all. All in all, i like my job, and that was the reason i went for it in the first place.
I think I am reasonably well paid and to be honest, see no reason for another round of benchmarking, and if i didnt get anything out of it, i wont be going on strike over it. However, if they want to pay me more.... dont look a gift horse and all that. I was very surprised that there will be another round, because I had not heard it mentioned beforehand. I dont honestly think many civil servants were looking for this, so i dont think we can be accused of shouting and screaming for more money. It was the unions that looked for this, and thats their job, but its the governments job to decide whether to pay it.
My main criteria for decidig to stay here will be career progression. If I get promoted (on merit), I will probably stay, but if not I might look elsewhere.
By the way, i noticed a comment earlier to the ffect that civil servants can somehow be given jobs or promotions on a political whim. This is a million miles from the truth. Graduate entry level grades in the civil servie are on the of the most competitive exams you can do, and the CSC are regarded as a very competent objective recruiter. On promotions, these mainly based these days on competitive exams and interviews, and believe me, they are very competitive (i know cos i just missed out on one). There are still promotions oin seniority, but thankfully these are dwindling in number and should disappear in the near future.
A career in civil service can be rewarding but unspectacular. I know i will never be rich, but hopefully i will be comfortable, and will have plenaty of time to play footie and do other things outside work.