Civil Service New Career- Break Scheme

Milk & Honey

What happens to civil servants who are already on a career-break? Will they now be paid the allowance to encourage them to stay away?

aonfocaleile

Not a prayer of that happening.

Anyway, the incentivised scheme only applies to those who want to take a 3 year career break from this September. If you want to go for less than that, then you won't get any money.

BroomBurner

Also, anyone going on a career break from the CS can not work for someone else. They can set up their own business, or travel or whatever, but they can't work for another employer. I presume they'll be particularly hard on those taking the 3 year €13K offer

CathyMoran

Sorry, and hope that this is not too off topic (mods pleas feel free to move) - does anyone have details of the scheme and is it 13K a year or over the 3 years? Thanks!

Milk & Honey

What if people on career breaks demand to come back? Can they be offered the new scheme?

InReality

Its a 1/3 of your salary a year , to a max of 12,700 a year.

I'd say its unlikely they would agree to someone coming back from a career break now, and then going on another one in sept and getting the above.

Its not mentioned in the scheme details AFAIK

Milk & Honey

I presume the object of the scheme is to reduce payroll costs. It would be cheaper to pay someone 1/3 of their salary to stay away rather than pay all of it if they came back.

Helix

aonfocaleile wrote: »

Not a prayer of that happening.

Anyway, the incentivised scheme only applies to those who want to take a 3 year career break from this September. If you want to go for less than that, then you won't get any money.

not from... you have to take before september 1st

floyd333

I wonder does this scheme only apply to the civil service.

What are the chances of it being extended to the entire public service?

I work for a semi state and would be very interested in this scheme.

Scubachick

CathyMoran wrote: »

Sorry, and hope that this is not too off topic (mods pleas feel free to move) - does anyone have details of the scheme and is it 13K a year or over the 3 years? Thanks!

Click this link and put "career break" in the search bar: http://www.personnelcode.gov.ie/Search.aspx

floyd333 wrote: »

I wonder does this scheme only apply to the civil service. What are the chances of it being extended to the entire public service? I work for a semi state and would be very interested in this scheme.

Same boat myself. HR really funny about unions here so I cannot contact them, but are they on the case? Any Union reps for public servants in the house?

Lorrie123

The career break has now been extended to HSE. Do you think it will be extended to local authorities??

SheroN

If they can pay someone money to stay away for 3 years, surely they aren't required in the first place?

Jo King

Of course not. It is typical of the government. They do not take steps to reduce the number of employees when it would be easy to do so during a boom. Then in a recession they try to reduce numbers without any kind of coherent plan. There are times when increased numbers in some areas might be necessary for a short period in order to make a structural reform which would reduce numbers in the long term.

The_Conductor

SheroN wrote: »

If they can pay someone money to stay away for 3 years, surely they aren't required in the first place?

You could argue this point. At the moment the proposal is to allow employees of the semi states take up civil service jobs- to cover for the severe staff shortages predicted (they want 6000 to take early retirement or the career break- this is 1/5 of all civil servants). The big problem is the semi state and public sector staff unions are demanding to be allowed to keep their existing salaries, payscales and other remunerations- they are not interested in working for the civil service otherwise.

gazzer

Jo King wrote: »

Of course not. It is typical of the government. They do not take steps to reduce the number of employees when it would be easy to do so during a boom. Then in a recession they try to reduce numbers without any kind of coherent plan. There are times when increased numbers in some areas might be necessary for a short period in order to make a structural reform which would reduce numbers in the long term.

If CS were made redundant they would be getting jobseekers allowance as well as other entitlements such as rent supplements, medical card etc. With this career break scheme they are not entitled to any of these so the cost to the government is less than if the staff were made redundant.

irelanda

I am a cs and have been thinking seriously about taking the 3 year incentive scheme. Can someone pls assist me with the ff' questions:

1. I understand you cannot take paid employment in the State but can i work in the UK during the career break?

2. If yes - I know Ireland & UK have the same tax regime, as the incentive (12K) is taxable, would there be any tax implications for any other income in the UK.

3. Would travel to UK Qualify as 'travel abroad' and can someone take employment while abroad?

4. Does additional income outside the State amount to a breach or conflict of interest re: civil servant's conduct generally.

Any clarifications is much appreciated.
Confused civil servant :mad:

Photojoe

Not all civil servants can apply for this scheme, ie those that actually are needed.

And now it looks like they are going to take away our privilige days at absolutely no benefit to the state.
What a great job, massive pay cut, expenses cut to the bone and now 2 days holidays gone.

The_Conductor

Photojoe wrote: »

Not all civil servants can apply for this scheme, ie those that actually are needed.

And now it looks like they are going to take away our privilige days at absolutely no benefit to the state.
What a great job, massive pay cut, expenses cut to the bone and now 2 days holidays gone.

Its quite funny- private sector unions are petitioning council to allow the traditional linkage they have with civil service expenses, travel, pay and subsistence to be abondoned- and the limits for tax purposes to be revised upwards- as they are not happy to accept the linkage with the decreases in civil service remuneration for pay, travel and subsistence. It looks likely that the private sector will agree to higher levels of expenses- however it also looks likely that the Revenue Commissioners are going to tax them.

Marksie

smccarrick wrote: »

You could argue this point. At the moment the proposal is to allow employees of the semi states take up civil service jobs- to cover for the severe staff shortages predicted (they want 6000 to take early retirement or the career break- this is 1/5 of all civil servants). The big problem is the semi state and public sector staff unions are demanding to be allowed to keep their existing salaries, payscales and other remunerations- they are not interested in working for the civil service otherwise.

Also the unions have issued a directive to CS employees that they are not to provide cover for other roles

Photojoe wrote: »

Not all civil servants can apply for this scheme, ie those that actually are needed.

That right, our workplace issued a memo saying no-one will be allowed to take it

Though i am looking at the short year as i am training in tantra santa barbara and india. I was under the impression that it would be spread throughout and that you woule be paying PRSI over the whole 12 months. However, this does not appear to be the case.

Photojoe wrote: »

And now it looks like they are going to take away our privilige days at absolutely no benefit to the state.
What a great job, massive pay cut, expenses cut to the bone and now 2 days holidays gone.

I didn't know that actually.

Oh dear. I was planning on leaving at some point, this government's shortsightedness is just clarifying when that point will be. Plus, dare I say it, a highly specialised set of skills will be going with me.

Wait until they attempt to hit the lump sum on pensions... a LOT of skilled, experienced people will be leaving then.

As an aside has anyone else here in the CS been continually bombarded, as we have, with reminders about disciplinary action should you be discovered critiscising government policy?

The_Conductor

thatssoweird wrote: »

Did you get a response to your questions as I am wondering the same thing?

Can someon work abroad while on the incentivised career break with the civil service?

Tks

Yes. You cannot work in the Irish Republic, other than in a self-employed capacity. This stipulation does not cover working abroad.

aliocroc

Any truth in the romours that something along these lines may be reintroduced with the agreement of the Croke Park Agreement!? Anyone hear anything?

I couldnt the last time but if it came up again i'd be outa here quicker than speedy gonzalez!!

CathyMoran

aliocroc wrote: »

Any truth in the romours that something along these lines may be reintroduced with the agreement of the Croke Park Agreement!? Anyone hear anything?

I couldnt the last time but if it came up again i'd be outa here quicker than speedy gonzalez!!

I dont know about that but it would be great if they did, I would take it...I just missed out on taking it the last time. That would be something else...we live in hope.

The_Conductor

It would be very interesting for a lot of people if they did- but given the state of play- and the agreement for full mobility we signed up to in the Croke Park Agreement- it would be questionable what the government would hope to achieve by reinstating the scheme. The embargo itself is already making the business of many Divisions increasingly difficult- while doubtless some staff could probably be shuffled to the major pressure points- if significant numbers of people decided to take incentivised career breaks- in many places it could be the straw that breaks the camels back.

aliocroc

smccarrick wrote: »

if significant numbers of people decided to take incentivised career breaks- in many places it could be the straw that breaks the camels back.

Very true! We're pretty bad for decimated staff numbers where I am but that said, they still have a considerable deficit to make up in public sector spending and things are quiet (where I am anyway…)!? Id be in the bracket of people they’d rather not take it so theres a chance I wouldn’t be granted it even if I applied!
Take up was very poor last time apparently, so much so that the Dept were very surprised! I think out of approx 300 people we had 2 or 3 take it up!

I should specify before this rumor grows legs-I heard that from an ex-union guy who has a current HR role, he mentioned in it in an unofficial capacity that it may happen that they reintroduce the scheme with the advent of the Croke Park deal. He certainly thought it was a possibility but he won’t be the one calling the shots in the Dept of Finance so really, who knows!? He's not the kinda guy just to say something to please me, he seemed to think it was a viable option for them to take!?

As a side-I think the time of year had a lot to do with the last time-I might be talking through my arse here but, people are on average, happier in the summer-there’s sun, sport, holidays to look forward to, etc. I reckon if they had offered to people coming into the wet and freezing November of last year the take up may have been better-people looking out the window and imagining themselves being paid to get outa the country and away from all the bad news, short days, flooding and freezing! Am I wrong?

In my perfect world-they’d re-introduce it, same money, all the same conditions but for 2 years (again coinciding with the moratoriums end)-reckon the possibility of this is fairly slim but I can dream cant I?

The_Conductor

And I'll dream alongside you.
I'm sorry I didn't consider it last time around.
Circumstances were different certainly, I'd be most surprised if they weren't inundated were they to offer it again......
12k isn't a lot of money- but it could be made stretch a long way in South America or elsewhere......

aliocroc

So am I! Raging-and everyone who i have talked to has called all different creeds of F'n eejit for not jumping at it-3 years was too daunting at the time and my contract wasnt exactly secure so I had to pass!

+1 on South America,-huts and hammocks! Or Thailand-tubing and whiskey buckets!!! The way I look at it-my bro went travelling around the world 2 years ago and he reckons the whole thing came close to 10k!!!! 12k offers me some serious options-shur you're being paid to go and travel-you'd feel like Kathryn Thomas! then in the second year, figure out if I wanna come back for college or stay on the road, live over in Melbourne or in Canada for a while, work a snow season, who knows... beats the hell outa desk jobs and rat race politics!

CathyMoran

For me I would expand my family more or at least spend more time with my son, we have free accomodation abroad and it is a lot cheaper over there...sure I can dream

The_Conductor

Perhaps someone should pop Brian an anonymous request (seeing as civil servants aren't allowed make representations!)

BorisKarloff

Anyone know if this scheme has been/is going to be extended?

The_Conductor

BorisKarloff wrote: »

Anyone know if this scheme has been/is going to be extended?

There was a circular on leave from Finance about 6 weeks ago, detailing the manner in which the existing leave schemes, including parental leave etc, are to be managed going forward.

As to whether the New Career Break scheme is going to be extended- well two chances, and neither of them good. If you want to take unpaid leave, providing it fits in the pre-existing schemes- and you do the math re: superannuation etc (if you want to make revised contributions on your return)- then perhaps you could make it work with an unpaid career break- however the likelyhood of a paid career break ever happening again- is extremely unlikely.

Funnily enough- the numbers who availed of the original incentivised scheme were bizarrely small......

BorisKarloff

Thanks for that.