HSE Career Break

speranza2

Hi,

I work within the HSE and my application for the Incentivised Career Break was rejected as were those of 89 of the 90 people who applied in my area! Incredible really...seems to me like the decisions were already made. I haven't received my official "sorry you didn't get it" yet however I was told by our HR department. Amazingly enough it seemed to be common knowledge to certain people as early as last Thursday with rumours, that later proved correct, doing the rounds. Absolutely sick over it really. From what I was told it looks like my employer made the decision at local level even though it was said that they would look at each case individually. What we have however seems to be an across the board refusal. In my opinion those decisions were made before they even received any applications. Absolute farce, putting people through a process when clearly they had no intention of giving it to them! Shocking treatment of staff and an absolute wasted process! So angry....

Cushie Butterfield

You should contact your union rep, as should others in the same situation. Not that it would probably make the slightest bit of difference, but they should be made aware of what's happening, & could raise the issue with management & possibly receive an official reply.

speranza2

Cheers! I know most people outside the public sector think its a scam anyway but I am new to this site and ended up in the computing section with my post....needless to say I got some spiteful replies but hey! As I said its just obvious decisions were already made and to put people through a process for no reason is dreadful. For what it's worth I did send an e-mail to head of HR in HSE so see if I am worthy of a reply! Just amazing that I have still to get official notice from the HSE but everybody seemed to know last Thursday. Rumours circulate and are not accurate most of the time however these turned out to be spot on!

mariatwalsh

hi there, speranza2
I too applied for career break, but have not heard a a word? As far as i know I am the only one in my dept to have applied? I am already on mat leave/ annual leave and really need to sort my child minding if I'm going back????? I'm due to return on july 1st , by coincidence? How were people informed last thursday? Did you speak to your line manager to see if he/she rejected your application?

Wishbone Ash

speranza2 wrote: »

From what I was told it looks like my employer made the decision at local level ....

I don't know why you're puzzled at this. We had 4 applications and rejected 2 of them at local level as we can't do without those grades. From a senior management point of view, it's a bit pointless constantly striving to fill vacancies and then allowing similar grades to leave. It just sends out the signal that the manager can cope with even less staff.

mariatwalsh

Why offer the incentive so? I totally understand why local level would reject it, but I assumed that head office would over rule local office, based on national strategy? No? what a waste of everyones time if this is a non runner?

speranza2

You see this is it. Nobody has been "officially" informed yet. Basically a colleague of mine was able to tell me last Thursday exactly what the head of HR told me on Monday! To the point as well, normally rumours are just that or close-ish but, this was on the money. The head of HR had the cheek to ask me to keep it under my hat then!! As I said 89 out of 90 rejected. Spoke to Business Manager today who said that they told HR they were happy for people to avail of the scheme if they were replaced so, in other words they weren't supporting it as they knew full well the staff wouldn't be replaced. She, like the poster above assumed that the HSE would overrule the local management. Still haven't received notification from the HSE so it is just a shambles. My main grievance is being put through a process that had obviously already being rejected by the board here. Shocking treatment of staff. Who leaks out this information I don't know but, I did send an e-mail to HSE HR complaining of same. I sincerely hope mariatwalsh that you have better news than me. Good luck!

speranza2

Having worked in the HSE for 11 years I know only too well how things have fallen down in the past few years what, with staff taking redundancies and retirements without being replaced. Believe me I know only too well what it is like for 3 people to do 5 peoples work and when 1 of those people are out the 2 do all the work! So from that point of view, I couldn't see why they offered it in the first place but they did. They also said applications would be judged on an individual basis when clearly they were rejected en masse. Only hope is head of HR here said that the HSE top brass may come back and say they need to re-look at cases.

Dr Sunshine

A little off point, but as someone who availed of the last public sector incentivised career break I just wanted to say if you are approved make sure you budget for the further 12 months when your career break ends as they can be slow to take you back - also be prepared to be redeployed, currently 45 km but this may be increased in the future.

Best of luck, hope they reconsider your applications as in spite of redeployment I am really glad, for family reasons, that I took the time out when I did.

mariatwalsh

Who'd be bothered!!!! I just really want to know if I av it or not? My child care is all over the place at the mo, surely they cant wait til the 30th to tell people they are off for the next 3 years, managers and colleagues will surely go mad if that happens? I'll post when I hear, fingers crossed.

speranza2

Yeah they can redply up to 45km away but that might not necessarily be a bad thing. A change of scenery that is. Staff morale including my own is at an all time low so maybe a shake up would be welcome. Have heard also about the many people waiting to get back for up to 12 months which is amazing when they have not been replaced?! My whole reason for taking it was because I have been sporadically unwell overt he past four years and seen this as an option to get myself sorted. Hopefully they reconsider from on high.Always great to hear things working out for people..my best wishes to everyone that applied and has yet to hear

speranza2

best of luck mariatwalsh. Fingers crossed

mariatwalsh

Dr sunshine am i right to think you are entitled to social welfare for the time it takes for them to re enter you?

speranza2

that's what I heard anyway that you are entitled to some social welfare payment

Dr Sunshine

mariatwalsh wrote: »

Dr sunshine am i right to think you are entitled to social welfare for the time it takes for them to re enter you?

Maria, you are not eligible for Jobseekers Benefit but can apply for the means tested Jobseeker's allowance.

mariatwalsh

Ah yes yes, thanks for that Dr Sunshine

Wishbone Ash

mariatwalsh wrote: »

Why offer the incentive so?

Because with all the changes in recent years, the HSE employs many staff that are surplus to requirements but can't easily be transferred/redeployed etc.

speranza2 wrote: »

She, like the poster above assumed that the HSE would overrule the local management

National/Regional HSE can't just overrule local management regardless of their strategy. Suppose all nurses working in St James Hospital apply. Do you seriously think local management would allow them to go?

speranza2 wrote: »

I couldn't see why they offered it in the first place but they did. They also said applications would be judged on an individual basis when clearly they were rejected en masse

Suppose you were a painter employed by the HSE and applied for the scheme and your location also employed 5 other painters. Most painting work is being contracted out so you would probably be successful. However, if you were a painter in another location where there were no other painters employed, your application would probably be rejected.

Similarly, if you are the only physiotherapist working in a particular service,it's unlikely your application would be successful.

speranza2 wrote: »

Yeah they can redply up to 45km away but that might not necessarily be a bad thing

Be careful what you wish for. It's 45kms from you current location. Suppose an employee travels 30kms to their current location, they would now have to travel 75kms to work (150kms round trip).

speranza2

wishbone Ash, that is all well and good however, there are for example in my area of work lets say 60 clerical officers per dept, etc etc. Now to refuse all the people who applied seems laughable. Regardless of what is said here, the should not have put people through a process when they knew from the outset that they would be refusing them all. That is just treating your staff like crap! No wonder the morale is, in my opinion, at an all time low. Maybe I was being flippant with the 45km remark but I was simply trying to convey my opinion that in some cases a change is a good thing with new challenges and therefore increased productivity. Maybe they should have set down requirements for applying in the first place.

Appreciate your feedback of course

Great to get other views

Kristopherus

Did you get a circurlar emailed from HSE HQ HR outlining the details of the scheme? It was my understanding that wherever possible, management had to consent to applicants requests as the purpose of the scheme is to cut costs and not for the benefit of staff:(.

mariatwalsh

Just got my rejection email, bitterly disappointed.

orgill86

I have been trying to contact anyone in the hse for the last two days but anyone one I can actually get to talk to knows nothing!! It is so frustrating I am expecting a no but I do need to know asap!!

mariatwalsh

orgill86 have you heard anything yet? Does anyone know of anyone who got the career break?

Galadriel

I'm still waiting to hear back, did they email you last night directly?

orgill86

mariatwalsh wrote: »

orgill86 have you heard anything yet? Does anyone know of anyone who got the career break?

No I still haven't heard anything or of anyone I know personally hearing anything either! Wish I could at least get someone on a phone that would tell me when I will know!

speranza2

Feel your pain folks, still nothing official myself even though I was told by HR here. Shocking stuff really! origill86 & Galadriel I wish you the best. For what its worth was speaking to someone from Tallaght Hospital who more or less has had the same experience in that everyone who applied has been rejected. Really shocking treatment of staff. Best of luck guys

fionnmc

Hi there has anyone heard of anyone being approved for this yet?

speranza2

Hi fionnmc,

I you read through the posts above it doesn't seem so. I have only heard of 1 out of 90 that I know of

janesligo

Hi, I just received an email today saying I've been rejected. I'm devastated, I had been told by my manager upon applying that I would be granted it. We had our plans all laid out for the next three years regarding our children and my husband had decided to work abroad while I was on the career break. This is terrible, obviously they had no intention of ever going through with this scheme, do they realise how many people they have affected with this. The HSE cannot get away with this!! Sorry for ranting...

thrilledskinny

Hi there,
I have applied and not heard back from them yet, except for acknowledgement mail.

I am worrying now, but trying to think it wont be the end of the world if i don't get it, my partner had warned me that I should not get my hopes up too much.
My boss had told me she had no say in it, but wouldn't object as she knows I am not happy in my job and badly need a change, with out resigning and being unemployed this would have suited perfectly.

Anyway now I'm wondering where are ye based, those who were rejected, or what jobs are ye in? admin? Nurses?

Cant understand why I haven't heard back?
Thanks...

Icke

Just got my email to say I've been rejected and no appeal as management decision is final. Absolutely gutted to say the least. Just wonder had HSE any intention of letting any staff take this all i'm hearing is rejections. I was confident I would be successful and had made plans ie childcare etc. Surely we can't be treated like this, very unfair ..... 😭😭😭😭

speranza2

Hi all this is the official e-mail from the HSE.

"I refer to your recent application for an incentivised career break [ICB] under the terms of HSE HR Circular 11/2013 and I regret to inform you that it has been rejected.



As stated in the above circular the operation of the ICB scheme is subject to the needs of the business / service and managers were required to take this into consideration when making recommendations to approve or reject applications. The final subsequent decision was taken at HSE regional senior management level and is not subject to appeal."

As with many of the above posts I too believe this was all a scam. Have still only heard of 1 successful applicant who was a Business Manager. (must have approved her/himself). For the people on this thread, as many of you as possible should write e-mails to the head of HR in the HSE making your feelings known. Dragging people through a process that was already decided upon.

People need to let the HSE know that this has been a shameful way to treat staff! And no appeal process? I suppose you can't appeal something that you were never going to be offered in the first place!

To janesligo-your situation is sooo similar to mine. Dreams of a new start shattered. Hope this isn't all just swept under the carpet.

sunshine78

HI all,
its an absolute shambles. I think it needs to be brought to the attention of minister Reilly who would have promoted this career break scheme. I believe that all Dublin hospitals more or less rejected all applicants.

I read that 3000 applied nationwide so it will be interesting to see how many were granted. Where I work there were about 80 applicants and none were approved.

How is it that the HSE does not have the power to overturn such decisions at local level?

I am gutted as it took some consideration and lots of in family discussions to decide to even apply, had more or less gotten used to the idea of 3 years to mind my young family.

mariatwalsh

I got the exact same email, only hope now is that when targets are not met management will be forced into rethink and made to give a certain percentage of applicants the incentive? I'm still gutted at the unfairness, I'm pretty sure I was the only one that applied in my dept.

I'm a nurse in the HSE south.

Frito

I was also rejected, as was my partner. I knew last Thursday that my manager would not be supporting my application (I think that was pretty much across the board) but had hoped that senior management would take a long view given the upcoming merger in my dept coupled with inability to be redeployed due to specialism. Alas no.
I might check with dept for health about the career break scheme. I can only assume they were wanting to cull managerial positions but maybe had to invite all staff to apply in case unions kicked up a fuss. If most applicants have been rejected then it's been a pointless exercise and a waste of money.

rosy01

Was ANYONE actually approved ....im a grade 111 clerical so i thought out of all positions that would be the most despensble but im still waiting for an email
wtf is going on !!!!:-(

janesligo

Hi all, ALL applicants in Letterkenny Hospital have been refused. What was this farce of a scheme all about??? Have heard of 2 applicants been approved around Sligo/ Leitrim. As someone said in an earlier post, it appears this was advertised as the HSE had a very small specific group of people they wanted to avail of it but had to leave it open to appear fair.
The only place I can see people are talking about this is here, nothing on any news websites. It shouldn't be kept under wraps. This was a cruel and heartless stunt and has upset many people and their families.
I bet everyone like myself spent a long time agonising over their decision to apply, I personally wrote many lists of pros and cons, discussed it with family members and even spoke out loud to myself a few times!!. It was all for nothing...

rosy01

Cruel is the best word ive read that describes this whole farce people are genuinely devestated ..... And then to string people along for a whole month its disgusting, it has to b highlighted ive rang the union and asked what the hell is going on so ill wait with baited breath (if they even bother to get back to me)

mariatwalsh

So how do we get the media interested? I assume we can only take it to task after the 1st of July when the break commences? yes? anyone know anyone? Does anyone know what will happen if the targets of staff reduction are not met?

Galadriel

I still haven't heard back, it's obviously not looking good, about 6 people applied for it in my place (we work in an office not a hospital).

What I don't understand is the amount of money they have wasted organising this, the man hours replying to queries, liaising with local HR and Managers, it just doesn't make sense if no one is allowed to go.

sunshine78

You are right, media should be informed. It was covered by all when it came out first. I read in the Iriah Examiner that 2,700 employees applied. I think the minister's office who sanctioned it should be notified perhaps. The whole think is a shambles and as one post said a lot of time and energy would have gone in even before applying. I got the email last night and am gutted as it turns everything on its head. The amazing thing is is that my department were very supportive so I guess its the powers above decided to blanket ban it!

Galadriel

Galadriel wrote: »

I still haven't heard back, it's obviously not looking good, about 6 people applied for it in my place (we work in an office not a hospital).

What I don't understand is the amount of money they have wasted organising this, the man hours replying to queries, liaising with local HR and Managers, it just doesn't make sense if no one is allowed to go.

Strike that, just got the refusal email, no surprises there!

speranza2

Hi guys, awful to hear all this. I sent an angry e-mail to my own HR and the main HR of the HSE. The guys name is John Smith and he is based somewhere along the quays.

I did send an e-mail to Joe Duffy, as he seems to be one for the people! Maybe my e-mail would not suffice airtime but if we got a few people to e-mail, it becomes public interest and will stand a better chance of being aired.

As I have said to many people now, the rejection was bad however, the treatment was worse! Strung along for no reason. Plans debated like a previous poster, pros and cons. Problem is not enough people complain. The unions are useless, left them a long time ago. Time and energy along with peoples hopes treated like dirt and with contempt.

Let your voice be heard people!

speranza2

For everybody out there who wants to make a complaint this is the man to contact as per the HSE's advice.

Assistant National Director, HR Services
[details removed]

MOD-Note: as per board policies, email addresses and phone numbers are not to be posted. Also, I'm not convinced that it's appropriate to name any public official here, except ones whose role requires them to be the "public face" of their organisation.

speranza2, if you can link to a website where these details can be found, that would be best. Even an internal-to-the-HSE link would be fine, as those that need to use it will have access. Of either tell people were to find the infomation themselves, or offer to PM it to them.

Galadriel

Looks like no one got it in my place, one person applied as their role is gone and they got refused too, none of it makes any sense.

mariatwalsh

Thanks for that, I will write emails to john smith and joe duffy.

this is all starting to smell a bit fishy, people involved in mergers, roles being removed, on long term leave and still people being refused?????

Is there anybody out there willing to post that did get the ICB? I'd love to hear what their story???

rosy01

Ye something is way off im defo gonna send a complaint, you can also ask your boss for a copy of the recommendation that was postd in by your boss apparantly they have to give it to you, if you request it, i know someone whos boss said that they would not oppose the application and then got a rejection email yestrday she got a copy of the recommendation and it turns out that her boss didnt approve it at all !!! But the real issue is that this was not supposed to be a ground level managment decision. Its all very strange nobody seems to have been approved, were would we find out the actual numbers of applications and refusals?

thrilledskinny

Well so much for the best laid plans of mice and men,
got my refusal email this afternoon,
thought I might stand a chance as there are too many of us where I work.

Cant understand it, am very disheartened. Although my partner had said not to build my hopes up too much a few weeks back and burst my bubble of excitement re being off for three years and the possibility of trying to change my career and life!

Like others I had made lists, pro's con's, what to say to the folks etc, a list of endless possibilities of what I could do with my time and so I have to go back to work monday dejected knowing my life is never going to change....

But then again I had a funny feeling the day the first person posted on here, a feeling that maybe I should be contented with my lot and not always looking for greener grass, if you know what I mean.

Am majorly peeved though, so glad I told no one now, except a best friend...god that rejection email just stole my dreams!!

janesligo

I have come to the conclusion that this scam..ahem...scheme was put forward so that a couple of thousand HSE employees would apply, be given the impression that they would be approved and plan there futures... I.e cancelling childcare, plan to move abroad etc.. Then when applications were rejected we are left in a position to continue with these plans and hence are either forced to resign our posts or apply for an unpaid career break.. Very very smart move...

sunshine78

speranza2 wrote: »

For everybody out there who wants to make a complaint this is the man to contact as per the HSE's advice.

Assistant National Director, HR Services
[ditto previous removed content]

Have sent one already!

speranza2

was thinking the same janesligo...ppl need to spread the word so a)they dont get away with this scam and b)nobody applies for an unpaid one and plays into their hands. I know that It crossed my mind briefly to do itbecause of plans that were in the offing. Desperation because they kinda gave impression thatthe majority should be approved except in exceptional circumstances which it seems we apparently all have!

Icke

janesligo wrote: »

I have come to the conclusion that this scam..ahem...scheme was put forward so that a couple of thousand HSE employees would apply, be given the impression that they would be approved and plan there futures... I.e cancelling childcare, plan to move abroad etc.. Then when applications were rejected we are left in a position to continue with these plans and hence are either forced to resign our posts or apply for an unpaid career break.. Very very smart move...

Janesligo totally agree with u they just keep pushing us till we resign or take unpaid career break. Very unfair that circular led people to believe that they would get career break only in excepetional circumstaces woukd it be rejected or deferred, I'm a clerical officer I don't have a specialised skill..... Or if I do I ain't getting the wages for it lol