Under-performing civil servants to be incentivised to leave jobs in new plans

Under-performing civil servants to be incentivised to leave jobs in new plans

Government plans to reshape civil service
The government is planning to shake up the civil service, with underperforming employees being incentivized to leave their jobs and top staff having their pay linked to performance. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden has highlighted the need for changes, stating that the current state of the service is not up to par with the country’s needs. These plans will be part of broader reforms set to be unveiled next week, following the prime minister’s recent intervention.

In efforts to address poor performance, a new process called “mutually agreed exits” is expected to be introduced to encourage civil servants who are not meeting expectations to voluntarily leave their positions. Senior officials who are underperforming will be put on development plans and could face dismissal if they do not show improvement within six months. Additionally, the pay of the most senior civil servants will be tied to their performance outcomes.

McFadden emphasized the importance of having a high-performing and delivery-focused civil service. He stated that the changes being implemented aim to incentivize and reward employees who excel in their roles, while allowing those who are not meeting standards to move on. The goal is to create a more efficient and productive civil service that can better serve the needs of the public.

Despite initial challenges faced by the government, there is a belief that the civil service needs to become not only leaner but also more adaptable. With the Labour Party still struggling in opinion polls, McFadden acknowledges that many people do not feel the system is working in their favor. The focus is on redirecting resources from the backrooms to frontline services, rather than relying on crude headcount targets to measure efficiency. The government is also committed to digitalization and hiring staff in relevant roles to improve public services

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More