Will this be the survey that finally causes civil service leadership to take notice?

The 2019 Civil Service People Survey is now live until Monday 4 November.

From previous surveys it is clear that many civil servants find value in their work and have a deep-rooted commitment to public service — making this country and the world we live in a better and safer place.

It is also clear that one of the key frustrations of those filling out the survey is a lack of action in terms of the results — even when the clearest of messages are given.

Encouraging staff to fill out the survey, civil service CEO John Manzoni states that “every completed survey provides valuable information that helps us make decisions about how to improve your experience as civil servants”. Really?

He then goes on hail an engagement index score being at a 10-year high of 62%. He identifies a number of areas where the index last year “rocketed” (my words) by a whole 1%. He then states there are no grounds for complacency.

What is remarkable about John Manzoni’s post is what he does not mention. Not surprising, but remarkable none the less.

Pay

He does not mention pay. Fairly consistently, over a number of years, around three quarters of staff say they believe they would be better rewarded doing similar jobs elsewhere.

Drill down into the figures and look at specialists — for example scientists and engineers — and the figures are far worse, which is one reason why the government finds it so hard to recruit and retain specialists. Manzoni’s response? Gloss over it, ignore, don’t mention it.

Complacency? Denial? Not important? Smug indifference? I have my own views but, put bluntly, it is simply not good enough and it demonstrates both lack of leadership and a lack of grounded understanding of what civil servants have had to endure over the past decade.

Staff have a right to expect better in their leaders and it really does put his aspiration for a “brilliant civil service” into perspective.

It may be brilliant for him but most civil servants don’t have the benefits of a previous high-flying career in the private sector to rely on when they are trying to get by.

Retention

Drill down into the figures and look at specialists — for example scientists and engineers — and the figures are far worse, which is one reason why the government finds it so hard to recruit and retain specialists. Manzoni’s response? Gloss over it, ignore, don’t mention it.

Complacency? Denial? Not important? Smug indifference? I have my own views but, put bluntly, it is simply not good enough and it demonstrates both lack of leadership and a lack of grounded understanding of what civil servants have had to endure over the past decade.

Staff have a right to expect better in their leaders and it really does put his aspiration for a “brilliant civil service” into perspective.

It may be brilliant for him but most civil servants don’t have the benefits of a previous high-flying career in the private sector to rely on when they are trying to get by.

Retention

And it’s not just pay. Around a quarter of civil servants have said consistently that they wish to leave their jobs either immediately or in the next year. Manzoni offers no recognition of this — either that it is an issue or something senior leaders such as he should be concerned about. Nothing. Diddly squat. Nada.

Any CEO I have dealt with in the private sector in a company of any repute (so this does not apply to Sports Direct!) would really worry about those types of figures.

They worry about recruitment, retention and pay in the NHS. They even worry in local government. But for the leadership in the civil service, the ship sails blithely on.

Stand up for staff

Things have to change. In the NHS, local government and elsewhere in the public sector, we have seen senior officials and even ministers stand up for the staff that serve them. In Scotland and Wales we have seen a notably different approach taken by senior officials and ministers.

Manzoni says the views provided by staff will “help set the agenda” and let him know “where we need to improve”.

I hope that staff and members do send a clear message. As a union we have been pressing the case with individual employers, the Cabinet Office and the Treasury at every opportunity.

We have repeatedly made the case in Parliament and at the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Where members support it, we are also making our case industrially.

I hope you fill out the people survey and you do so honestly. My advice if you want a voice — join a trade union (I’d love you to join Prospect, but other trade unions are available!) and together we will make sure you are heard. If you are a member, encourage your colleagues to join — the more members we have, the bigger the difference we can make.

Garry Graham is the deputy general secretary of Prospect Union.