Returning to the public service

Bothered38

Many moons ago (22 years to be more precise) I worked for the public service. I have recently applied for job in this sector again.

They sent me a fairly generic email to invite me to interview and to tell me that I will need to start on the first point of the pay scale if I have not worked for the public service previously.

The difference in the top and lower end of the pay scale is vast enough to make a big difference to me. I’m wondering if anybody could advise on whether my employment years ago will enable me to bypass the lower point of the scale. I could of course just ask them, but that would be at an interview stage and I’m reluctant to waste their time, or to organise time off from my current job to attend an interview if I am not going to take the job.

Diceicle

It ultimately comes down to a local management decision. They (as I understand it) are not prohibited from placing an applicant at a higher point of the scale so much as they are not advised to do so from an industrial relations point of view.
It will depend alot on the type of job in question - if its a niche skilled post and a non-entry level grade then theres a reasonable chance.
Though you should be trying to make your case / organise an informational sitdown with the General Manager that you'd be reporting to to make your case there.
The National Recruitment Service will be of no help and at the end of the day they dont control the budget of the office doing the hiring - they're just a facilitator.

Monife

You would need to be entitled to incremental credit, to get placed on a higher up point on the scale than the first one. For this, you need to have had a minimum of 3 years' service (for CO grade, 4 years for EO). There are various incremental credit agreements in place for certain entry level CS grades.

Here's the relevant circular: https://circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/finance/2004/21.pdf

Bothered38

Many thanks for the replies. I fall outside of the incremental credit requirements, but good I know before I waste my time and theirs.

Pronto63

I did a 3 month stint as a TCO. About a year later I got a permanent position. My 3 months was counted as Service for my first increment.

Monife

Pronto63 wrote: »

I did a 3 month stint as a TCO. About a year later I got a permanent position. My 3 months was counted as Service for my first increment.

Was there a break in service of more than 26 weeks? If no, then that is why.

If there is a break in service of more than 26 weeks, the incremental credit circular applies. I had 2 and a half years' TCO service, an 18 month break between that position and my current PS position and I was not awarded incremental credit.

Pronto63

Monife wrote: »

Was there a break in service of more than 26 weeks? If no, then that is why.

If there is a break in service of more than 26 weeks, the incremental credit circular applies. I had 2 and a half years' TCO service, an 18 month break between that position and my current PS position and I was not awarded incremental credit.

Can't remember exactly but I'd say it was in fact less than the 26 weeks.

FelaniaMump

There is absolutely no chance of getting in above the first point in the scale.

Monife

FelaniaMump wrote: »

There is absolutely no chance of getting in above the first point in the scale.

Well that is actually factually incorrect. If you have more than 3 years previous service, you can be awarded incremental credit. If you have a break between two PS jobs of less than 26 weeks, your incremental progression continues i.e. you don't start at day 1 on point 1, you continue on.

Also, if it's a specialist role, they can negotiate with DPER to allow you start on a higher point. In fact, in my current organisation, a new EO started on the 3rd point of the scale due to management fighting that their position warranted the extra money due to their skills and a skills shortage in their area at that time.

MarkR

FelaniaMump wrote: »

There is absolutely no chance of getting in above the first point in the scale.

I started in public service in the last year, and I didn't start on the first point. Presumed there was leeway for experience.

rsl1976

I have 6 years previous experience and have been told by the HR department I can carry it over. Wont be straight away said it will take a few weeks to sort

hammy007

Monife wrote: »

Well that is actually factually incorrect. If you have more than 3 years previous service, you can be awarded incremental credit. If you have a break between two PS jobs of less than 26 weeks, your incremental progression continues i.e. you don't start at day 1 on point 1, you continue on.

Hi Monife,
I found the circular where the 26 week rule applies to pensions, but do you know if it also applies to starting salary? I'm starting a new job soon and they're trying to put me on point 1 when I should be on point 4. I've had a 28 week gap now, but only because it took them 5 weeks to do all the pre-employment checks. I was in my last PS job for a little over 3 years, but have over 15 years all together in my field. Thanks

Monife

hammy007 wrote: »

Hi Monife,
I found the circular where the 26 week rule applies to pensions, but do you know if it also applies to starting salary? I'm starting a new job soon and they're trying to put me on point 1 when I should be on point 4. I've had a 28 week gap now, but only because it took them 5 weeks to do all the pre-employment checks. I was in my last PS job for a little over 3 years, but have over 15 years all together in my field. Thanks

Hi, yeah pretty sure it applies to salary scales as well. That's what my employer told me, I had a nearly an 18 month gap though. I left on the 3rd point of the scale and had to start back on the 1st point.

hammy007

Monife wrote: »

Hi, yeah pretty sure it applies to salary scales as well. That's what my employer told me, I had a nearly an 18 month gap though. I left on the 3rd point of the scale and had to start back on the 1st point.

Thanks I'm hoping they'll be lenient with me and reinstate my points since it's just a few weeks. Worth a shot anyways!

DisusedShed

I am hoping that somebody can answer my query via this thread rather than starting a new one.

I have worked for the past 2 years in the public sector (mix of public and civil service at CO and EO grade).
If I were to apply for a CO role, would I be able to start on point 3 or does the incremental credit not work that way?