Working Conditions in the Civil Service

redarse

I have been offered a position in the Civil Service in a provincial town 5 mins from home.

I have served 15 years in the Defence Forces and one of the main reasons that I'm considering leaving is for more stability of posting and working near home (young baby, wife etc.).

Am I right in saying you can't forcibly relocated in the Civil Service to another location or have I got that wrong? Any info on this or the general working conditions would be much appreciated.

TrixIrl

redarse wrote: »

I have been offered a position in the Civil Service in a provincial town 5 mins from home.

I have served 15 years in the Defence Forces and one of the main reasons that I'm considering leaving is for more stability of posting and working near home (young baby, wife etc.).

Am I right in saying you can't forcibly relocated in the Civil Service to another location or have I got that wrong? Any info on this or the general working conditions would be much appreciated.

As far as I know you can only be relocated to a max of 42kms from existing base or home whichever is the nearer. Relocations are rarer enough tho.

bobbysands81

TrixIrl wrote: »

As far as I know you can only be relocated to a max of 42kms from existing base or home whichever is the nearer. Relocations are rarer enough tho.

Even though there is a 45km rule, as in you can be relocated to another office or Dept within 45km, it is rarely implemented.

TrixIrl

Yep I’ve only heard of transfers within a county, like wexford to Gorey or Waterford to Dungarvan. Actually never seen anyone moved unwilling across county lines.

redarse

bobbysands81 wrote:

Even though there is a 45km rule, as in you can be relocated to another office or Dept within 45km, it is rarely implemented.

Would it be a fair assumption to make then that once you have finished probation (and have no performance issues) you would be left where you are indefinitely?

redarse

redarse wrote: »

Would it be a fair assumption to make then that once you have finished probation (and have no performance issues) you would be left where you are indefinitely?

i dont think anyone can give you that kind of blank guarantee tbh

redarse

Deleted User wrote:

i dont think anyone can give you that kind of blank guarantee tbh

I know, that's fair enough. But I suppose I'm just comparing it to my current job where you can expect to be moved across the country every 3 years. Just trying to gauge what it's like in the Civil Service

Odelay

redarse wrote: »

Would it be a fair assumption to make then that once you have finished probation (and have no performance issues) you would be left where you are indefinitely?

This would be normal, even if there are performance issues chances are you’ll be left there.

Riskymove

redarse wrote: »

I know, that's fair enough. But I suppose I'm just comparing it to my current job where you can expect to be moved across the country every 3 years. Just trying to gauge what it's like in the Civil Service

It would be nothing like defense forces, Gardatc

the only real likely forced move is if the Org moved to a new building. This can happen but is rare enough. even then it is likely to remain in the vicinity

bobbysands81

redarse wrote: »

Would it be a fair assumption to make then that once you have finished probation (and have no performance issues) you would be left where you are indefinitely?

Yes.

It’s very rare that folk are moved geographical locations or Department without requesting it.

It does happen though and the main reason I can think of is if regional offices close (as has happened to Revenue in Dungarvan) or if there is a re-organization of a Govt Dept as happened when staff of Dept of Environment had to leave to go to Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht.

redarse

Also, do you have your own offices in the civil service or does it depend on your grade and if so what grades get their own offices?

Ursus Horribilis

What grade will you be? Would not having your own office be a dealbreaker? From what I can see, it's a no-brainer to move across to the Civil Service.

redarse

Ursus Horribilis wrote:

What grade will you be? Would not having your own office be a dealbreaker? From what I can see, it's a no-brainer to move across to the Civil Service.

AP, no it wouldn't be a deal breaker at all. Just trying to get a feel for what to expect

adam88

Co and eo would not have their own office. Heo in the revenue commissioners have their own office alright.

Addle

redarse wrote: »

AP, no it wouldn't be a deal breaker at all. Just trying to get a feel for what to expect

Huge adjustment. So give it time.

Bicycle

adam88 wrote: »

Co and eo would not have their own office. Heo in the revenue commissioners have their own office alright.

None of the HEOs I know of in the Revenue Commissioners have their own offices. Its only APs and above.

Americaninexile

redarse wrote: »

AP, no it wouldn't be a deal breaker at all. Just trying to get a feel for what to expect

AP would be a very tough level to enter the CS at.

Easier in a provincial venue than Dublin though.

redarse

Americaninexile wrote:

AP would be a very tough level to enter the CS at.

I'd imagine so, looking forward to the challenge

uck51js9zml2yt

No one in my dept has an office except the big cheeses. AP &POs are in open plan with the rest of us mortals

redarse

What dept are you if you don't mind me asking?

Sir Ophiuchus

Zackary Sweet Rug wrote: »

No one in my dept has an office except the big cheeses. AP &POs are in open plan with the rest of us mortals

Whereas all APs and above in my Department have their own offices.

hardybuck

Sir Ophiuchus wrote: »

Whereas all APs and above in my Department have their own offices.

Actively being phased out - e.g. new buildings or upgrades to existing ones.

hardybuck

Americaninexile wrote: »

AP would be a very tough level to enter the CS at.

Easier in a provincial venue than Dublin though.

An AP in Dublin is more likely to be involved in policy development, progressing Government priorities etc. That can be easier for some who may have lots of political nous, technical skills in legislation etc., and less operational experience.

The regional role is far more likely to be an operational one, and require someone to be able to manage larger teams, churn out volumes of operational output. Therefore a bit of common sense can be substituted for the political stuff, lean manufacturing/project management/staff management experience would all be helpful.

Rosen

Americaninexile wrote: »

AP would be a very tough level to enter the CS at.

Easier in a provincial venue than Dublin though.

Wouldn’t agree with that at all. I’ve worked in both Dublin and in a region, found region much harder. It’s a case by case basis. A lot of Dublin based APs have pretty straight forward roles, regional posts tend to have to juggle a lot of functions, as well as cope with the added travel burden, in my experience.

Kimbot

adam88 wrote: »

Co and eo would not have their own office. Heo in the revenue commissioners have their own office alright.

I know an eo or two with their own office

Addle

Kimbot wrote: »

I know an eo or two with their own office

Are they 'difficult'?

Crunchymomma

Kimbot wrote: »

I know an eo or two with their own office

Same, I had my own office when I became EO. I think it depends on the department and location

Ursus Horribilis

Crunchymomma wrote: »

Same, I had my own office when I became EO. I think it depends on the department and location

It does. Where I worked, the HEOs had their own offices but I think that has since been phased out.

redarse

Rosen wrote:

Wouldn’t agree with that at all. I’ve worked in both Dublin and in a region, found region much harder. It’s a case by case basis. A lot of Dublin based APs have pretty straight forward roles, regional posts tend to have to juggle a lot of functions, as well as cope with the added travel burden, in my experience.

What do mean about the added travel burden?

uck51js9zml2yt

redarse wrote: »

What do mean about the added travel burden?

Think poster meant having to go to the canteen and sit there for half the day;)

lbc2019

Addle wrote: »

Are they 'difficult'?

Do they mind Bees? I want my own office! (Not really tho!)

Rosen

redarse wrote: »

What do mean about the added travel burden?

A lot of time spent travelling to/from Dublin for meetings.

redarse

Rosen wrote:

A lot of time spent travelling to/from Dublin for meetings.

Would that be weekly, once a month or what kind of frequency in your experience?

AndrewJRenko

redarse wrote: »

Rosen wrote:

A lot of time spent travelling to/from Dublin for meetings.

Would that be weekly, once a month or what kind of frequency in your experience?

This would vary greatly depending on the role. Most policy work is centered around Dublin.

SMCG

I'm also interested in the work conditions of civil service having been offered an AO position in Revenue outside Dublin.

I've never worked for the government before. My initial question is that the contract is for 43 1/4 hours per week. Is this correct in practice? And the starting pay is pretty bad, are there other advantages like free parking? Would it depend on the office? And does the compulsory pension come off that salary?

Thanks if anyone can answer.

hardybuck

SMCG wrote: »

I'm also interested in the work conditions of civil service having been offered an AO position in Revenue outside Dublin.

I've never worked for the government before. My initial question is that the contract is for 43 1/4 hours per week. Is this correct in practice? And the starting pay is pretty bad, are there other advantages like free parking? Would it depend on the office? And does the compulsory pension come off that salary?

Thanks if anyone can answer.

Have you considered asking Revenue any of the above?

SMCG

I have no contacts in Revenue yet, I still in the Public Appointments System process and they have no information to offer me but I have to make a decision.

hardybuck

SMCG wrote: »

I have no contacts in Revenue yet, I still in the Public Appointments System process and they have no information to offer me but I have to make a decision.

Ask to speak to someone in Revenue HR who is responsible for that office, that's the only way you'll get the answers to most of your questions.

Your hours will vary like every business, you may or may not be on flexitime depending on what the practice is in the office you're being assigned to.

Parking will depend on location. Dublin City you're very unlikely to get it, but grade can play a role. Pension rules are same for everyone.

Moving2017

SMCG wrote: »

I'm also interested in the work conditions of civil service having been offered an AO position in Revenue outside Dublin.

I've never worked for the government before. My initial question is that the contract is for 43 1/4 hours per week. Is this correct in practice? And the starting pay is pretty bad, are there other advantages like free parking? Would it depend on the office? And does the compulsory pension come off that salary?

Thanks if anyone can answer.

The contract hours are correct.
Free parking is office dependent,
The starting salary is non-negotiable.
The pension is compulsory, and comes off your salary, as well as the pension levy/pension related deductions: FAQ on this can be found here: https://www.per.gov.ie/en/faq-documents/

SMCG

Thanks for the replies and advice. I'll follow up with the office.

Sir Ophiuchus

43 1/4 hours per week

Note that while those hours are correct, they're derived based on the 'standard' work hours (which are not at all necessarily what people actually work) of 9 to 5.45 (5.15 on Friday) every day with 75 minutes for lunch.

The actual expected work hours are 7h24m per day exclusive of lunch break, with a minimum 30 minute unpaid lunch. So that basically maps to a standard 40 hour week.