Anyone returned from civil service career break?

tannytantans

Hi,hope this is the right forum.

Just wondering if anyone has returned from a civil service career break lately?

My bf will be finished his 1 year break in October and we've been hearing conflicting reports on whether or not he'll be able to get a job anytime soon. One source said it would be at least 12 months after he returns and another said he should get a position easily enough.

He's rang a few different departments about his but as usual no one seems to know for sure!

Any info would be great

Firetrap

Anecdotally, I know of someone who wants to return from a career break and they've been fobbed off. It's looking like they won't be getting a position for a year.

Tails142

Dont really want to give too much details but suffice it to say that I personally know someone who in the last two months returned from a career break of 3 years.

He was waiting a number of months for a position to open up. A position did eventually arise due to someone being transferred from one office to another closer to where they were from, not a promotion just a sideways transfer, and then the person I know filled the vacant position left behind.

So it is happening but it might take longer than usual.

Nightwish

I dont know about civil service, but in the HSE, you have to make contact with your local HR department and indicate your wish to return. You get put on a list and you are given a return to work date based on vacancies that may arise. Theres no guarantees on anything at the moment.

chocgirl

Nightwish wrote: »

I dont know about civil service, but in the HSE, you have to make contact with your local HR department and indicate your wish to return. You get put on a list and you are given a return to work date based on vacancies that may arise. Theres no guarantees on anything at the moment.

Yeah my friend is just back from a year travelling and this is exactly what she did and she's got the ok to start back. There has to be an existing vacancy though and I'm not sure if it only applies to frontline or clinical staff.

tannytantans

Thanks for the answers guys.

Doesn't look like he'll get back in straight away anyway so I think we might just extend our travels for a few weeks - not all bad I suppose!

The_Conductor

tannytantans wrote: »

Thanks for the answers guys.

Doesn't look like he'll get back in straight away anyway so I think we might just extend our travels for a few weeks - not all bad I suppose!

When you are offered a position- the notice can be unusually short- aka- on a Friday you can be advised to report the following Monday. I wouldn't necessarily go too far away!!!

joehandyman

A friend recently returned after a year travelling to discover that it is unlikely that she will get back in to Revenue for the next couple of years. She is having problems getting the dole and more importantly finding alternative employment.

She has been told after numerous interviews that she doesn't have any particular experience or relevant qualification to work in taxation in the private sector despite working in Revenue for 10 years and having a business studies diploma.

Apparantly, instructions from Government is that anyone on a career break should not be re-employed until such time as the public finances improve, which could potentially take up to 5 years. Needless to say, it will be a tough few years to cope without a regular salary and the security that the civil service offers.

tannytantans

Argh! It's so annoying how the civil service themselves can't give any concrete info on this!

He's not too fussy about what department he gets put into or even where so please god that will improve his chances a little. His sister knows someone who's been waiting to get back in for over 18 months :eek:

And then as mentioned there's the problem with the Dole - technically he's employed - has no P45 etc - but he's not getting paid! Grrr!:mad: Actually rang the Welfare people and they had no idea what he would be entitled to!

The_Conductor

joehandyman wrote: »

A friend recently returned after a year travelling to discover that it is unlikely that she will get back in to Revenue for the next couple of years. She is having problems getting the dole and more importantly finding alternative employment.

She is eligible for means tested Jobseekers allowance (not benefit), but will need a declaration from Personnel in Revenue that they are not in a position to reassign the staff member at this time.

joehandyman wrote: »

She has been told after numerous interviews that she doesn't have any particular experience or relevant qualification to work in taxation in the private sector despite working in Revenue for 10 years and having a business studies diploma.

Unless she was an inspector or engaged at a middle or higher level in policy formation (i.e. AP or higher) this sounds accurate. Every second person in the civil service has a business degree- and even most admin staff in Revenue would be expected to hold tax qualifications. I know I got grilled when going for AO there years ago.

joehandyman wrote: »

Apparantly, instructions from Government is that anyone on a career break should not be re-employed until such time as the public finances improve, which could potentially take up to 5 years. Needless to say, it will be a tough few years to cope without a regular salary and the security that the civil service offers.

Public finances could take a lot longer than 5 years to recover. I do feel sorry for your friend. The civil service security that people like to rabbit on about is largely illusional Aren't there proposals to lay off several thousand? You can be sure they'll not get the fat redundancy packages the private sector like to think are normal.......

tannytantans wrote: »

Argh! It's so annoying how the civil service themselves can't give any concrete info on this!

He's not too fussy about what department he gets put into or even where so please god that will improve his chances a little. His sister knows someone who's been waiting to get back in for over 18 months

And then as mentioned there's the problem with the Dole - technically he's employed - has no P45 etc - but he's not getting paid! Grrr! Actually rang the Welfare people and they had no idea what he would be entitled to!

If he is employed- surely he is entitled to be paid? If he is not being paid- he is not employed- surely its black and white?

I've a family member who has been waiting to come back from a career break for almost 2 years- and getting increasingly frustrated. The office she used to work in has closed, and she is at her wits end. She had thought with decentralisation that she'd have her choice of locations- but even that has pettered out. Who knows?

Apparently there is an instruction that the CWOs are to bring these cases to the APs notice (they are becoming increasingly frequent).

I suppose its a lesson to all of us- the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side- there is no such thing as a secure job anywhere any more........

Sineadg

I had to laugh when I read this thread because I am in EXACTLY the opposite position. I found out a few hours ago that my application for a career break extension was refused, after 3 years out, and I am now due back to the Department on Monday morning next. Unfortunately I am required to give a month's notice at my current job! (I do know I wasn't really supposed to be working!) I have been on to Impact earlier but have yet to hear back from them. Surely they have to give u more notice than 3 working days!?

tannytantans

Thats a pretty bad situation - I'd say you should definitely try to get in contact with the HR department about it?When does your career break officially end?

Just to update about my boyfriend. He contacted his HR to say he was coming back etc and they said they are desperate for people (well not those exact words) and could have him back straight away, the day after his career break ended.

BUT we had planned on doing a little more travel after hearing loads of stories about no one getting their jobs back straight away. So he said this to the HR lady who said she could delay is coming back for about 10 weeks without him having to apply for an extension on his career break. So happy days

Jo King

I thought it was the case that a Civil Servant returning from a career break had to be re-employed within one year of making herself available to go back.

Sineadg

tannytantans wrote: »

Thats a pretty bad situation - I'd say you should definitely try to get in contact with the HR department about it?When does your career break officially end?

It is up officially next Monday but I applied for the extension in July and with the current state of affairs I thought it was a done deal. I'm glad to hear your bf got an extension as I wasnt sure if you could do that. Fingers crossed they will do something like that for me. I tried to get on to HR today but the person responisble wasn't there and the lad I spoke to couldn't help me. Enjoy the rest of your travel.

The_Conductor

Sineadg wrote: »

tannytantans wrote: »

Thats a pretty bad situation - I'd say you should definitely try to get in contact with the HR department about it?When does your career break officially end?

It is up officially next Monday but I applied for the extension in July and with the current state of affairs I thought it was a done deal. I'm glad to hear your bf got an extension as I wasnt sure if you could do that. Fingers crossed they will do something like that for me. I tried to get on to HR today but the person responisble wasn't there and the lad I spoke to couldn't help me. Enjoy the rest of your travel.

The big problem is they are not allowed to recruit anyone- however people returning from career breaks, can be placed. The departments budget is broken into a number of categories- including a pay budget for staff- and if they can afford it- they have been very proactive recently in placing returning staff- as sections and divisions in almost all departments are barely operational on skeleton crews. With the recent social welfare cull- this is only getting worse- which bodes badly for everyone.

Sineadg

Just to let u know I got the union involved and got another month on special leave, but definitely have to go back then.

The_Conductor

Has anyone heard any details about pressure being put on admin staff to apply for early retirement over the past few days? I've a long and bewildering list of people in front of me who have all of a sudden within 2 days of each other suddenly decided to apply for early retirement (after the official close off of the scheme)?

Jo King

Anything to do with the "taxing the retirement gratuity" rumour that is currently doing the rounds?

The_Conductor

Jo King wrote: »

Anything to do with the "taxing the retirement gratuity" rumour that is currently doing the rounds?

The proposal is to cap the tax free lumpsum at 200k (this is across the board- nothing to do with the civil service- both public and private sector). You'd have to be AP level or higher in the civil service to hit this level.

Firetrap

The rumour I heard is that the lower lump sums will be taxed as well. Of course we're only talking rumours here.